The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will hold its next Citizens Police Academy starting in April, and is looking for people who are interested in learning more about law enforcement and the Sheriff’s Office.
Classes will begin in April and continue through May 2026. There will be three separate academies — one each in the Lower, Middle and Upper Keys.
Attendees will be asked to commit to spending one night a week between 6 and 9 p.m., in addition to the graduation ceremony in Marathon.
Classes will be held in the individual district holding the academy and will include about 15 attendees.
In the Upper Keys, classes will meet on Thursdays — beginning April 9 — at the Roth Building on Plantation Key.
In the Middle Keys, classes will meet on Wednesdays — beginning April 8 — at the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Hangar in Marathon.
In the Lower Keys, classes will meet on Tuesdays — beginning April 7 — at the Sheriff’s Office headquarters building on Stock Island.
Classes will include:
• An orientation and introduction to patrol procedures.
• A tour of jail facilities.
• Introduction to weapons: Simunitions and Taser.
• Traffic/felony stops.
• Crime scene investigations, including a hands-on mock crime scene.
• Building searches.
• Introduction to specialty units: Bomb, Dive, SWAT, Major Crimes and Special Investigations.
Space is limited. Those interested should contact the captain in the area where they wish to attend. Applications are due by March 2.
• Lower Keys: Capt. David Smith, 305-745-3184 or desmith@keysso.net
• Middle Keys: Capt. Derek Paul, 305-289-2430 or dpaul@keysso.net • Upper Keys: Capt. Spenser Bryan, 305-853-3211 or sbryan@keysso.net; or Capt. Lissette Quintero, 305-664-6480 or lquintero@keysso.net
