Monroe County Sheriff Department

1. Monroe County Sheriff Department Overview

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency serving Monroe County, Florida — a unique jurisdiction that encompasses the entire chain of the Florida Keys, stretching approximately 112 miles of islands from Key Largo at the northeastern tip to Key West at the southernmost point of the continental United States. The main highway connecting these islands, U.S. Route 1 (the Overseas Highway), crosses 45 bridges along this span, creating one of the most geographically distinctive law enforcement territories in the country.

Unlike most county sheriff’s departments that patrol a compact geographic area, MCSO must cover a narrow chain of islands surrounded by open ocean, requiring specialized marine patrol capabilities in addition to traditional road patrol operations. The department provides full-service law enforcement across all unincorporated areas of Monroe County, while the City of Key West maintains its own separate police department (KWPD) within the city limits.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office employs approximately 589 people. Of those, 198 serve as road patrol officers and detectives, 152 are corrections officers, 159 work as support staff, and 80 are employed by the Sheriff’s Office-managed HIDTA Group (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) — a federal task force focused on drug interdiction, reflecting the Keys’ geographic proximity to Caribbean trafficking routes.

2. Official MCSO Website & Online Portal

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office maintains a modern, mobile-friendly website that serves as the central hub for public information, services, and community engagement. The website was redesigned in 2024 with the help of Overseas Media Group, a locally owned Florida Keys digital agency, giving it a clean, responsive layout that works well on phones, tablets, and desktops.

MCSO Official Website — Live Portal

Browse the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office official website directly below. Access current arrests, office locations, personnel directory, and community resources:

3. Sheriff Rick Ramsay — Leadership & Background

Sheriff Rick Ramsay is the current and longest-serving elected sheriff of Monroe County. His law enforcement career began in 1987 when he graduated from the Florida Keys Institute of Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Academy and was appointed as a road patrol deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Over the course of his career, Ramsay rose through the ranks serving in multiple divisions including patrol, investigations, special operations, corrections, and the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force. He was promoted to Undersheriff in 2004 under then-Sheriff Rick Roth. In 2012, Ramsay ran for Sheriff and was elected by an overwhelming majority of voters, and has been re-elected in every subsequent election cycle — 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Beyond his law enforcement duties, Sheriff Ramsay served as a volunteer firefighter for 15 years with the Marathon Volunteer Fire Department, reaching the rank of Deputy Chief. He describes those years as among the most fulfilling of his public service career. Ramsay is the most decorated deputy in MCSO history with approximately 150 commendations, including the Medal of Valor for rescuing a man from a drainage pipe filled with lethal fumes.

4. Command Staff & Organizational Structure

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office operates under a structured chain of command with clearly defined responsibilities. The Sheriff serves as the chief law enforcement officer with ultimate authority and responsibility for every division and department within the organization.

Key Command Staff Positions

Sheriff Rick Ramsay — Chief law enforcement officer responsible for all MCSO operations. Day-to-day oversight through the command staff. Contact: rramsay@keysso.net

Undersheriff Chad Scibilia (Colonel) — Second in command of the entire Sheriff’s Office. Responsible for daily personnel actions, enforcement of general orders and policy, and disposition of disciplinary matters. Oversees all three bureaus: Operations, Corrections, and Administrative. Contact: cscibilia@keysso.net

General Counsel Patrick McCullah — Advises the Sheriff and command staff on civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Serves as chief labor and contract negotiator, liaison to outside counsel and the State Attorney’s Office. Oversees forfeiture litigation and policy development. Contact: pmccullah@keysso.net

Major (Bureau of Law Enforcement) — Oversees all road patrol divisions and general law enforcement operations across the Keys.

Major (Corrections Bureau) — Responsible for the entire Corrections Bureau including all three jail facilities, corrections officers, support staff, and contractors.

For the complete personnel directory, visit keysso.net/staffs or keysso.net/personnel.

5. Divisions & Specialized Units

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is organized into multiple divisions that reflect the unique demands of policing a chain of islands with a substantial tourist population. Here is a breakdown of the major operational divisions:

Patrol Division

The backbone of MCSO operations, the patrol division is responsible for covering all roads and communities throughout Monroe County. With 198 road patrol officers and detectives, patrol deputies respond to 911 calls, conduct traffic stops, handle accidents, and provide a visible law enforcement presence from Key Largo to Key West. The patrol area is divided into numbered districts, each served by a substation.

Criminal Investigations Division

Detectives in this division handle all major criminal investigations including homicides, sexual assaults, burglaries, fraud, and crimes against persons. The division works closely with the State Attorney’s Office for the 16th Judicial Circuit.

Special Investigations Unit

This unit specializes in narcotics investigations and drug interdiction — a particularly critical function given the Florida Keys’ proximity to Caribbean smuggling routes. The unit works in coordination with the South Florida HIDTA task force, which employs 80 dedicated personnel through MCSO.

Marine Patrol Division

Unique to island-chain jurisdictions, the Marine Patrol Division is responsible for patrolling the waters of Monroe County — encompassing Florida Bay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and the Gulf of Mexico. Marine deputies enforce boating laws, conduct search and rescue operations, and assist with maritime drug interdiction.

Corrections Bureau (Jail Division)

The Corrections Bureau operates the three jail facilities in Monroe County — on Stock Island (Key West), Marathon, and Plantation Key. With 152 corrections officers, this division handles intake/booking, inmate housing, transportation, medical coordination, and release processing.

Special Tactical Units

MCSO maintains several specialized response capabilities including a fully equipped SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team, Dive Team for underwater search and recovery, and a Bomb Squad for explosive ordnance disposal. These units are available for deployment across the entire Keys chain.

Professional Standards & Internal Affairs

This division oversees accountability, internal investigations, and compliance with accreditation standards. It also manages Key West International Airport security and media relations.

6. Headquarters & Patrol Substations

Because the Florida Keys are a 112-mile chain of islands, MCSO cannot operate effectively from a single location. The department maintains a main headquarters on Stock Island (adjacent to Key West) plus four patrol substations strategically positioned throughout the Keys to ensure rapid response times in every community.

Location	Address	Phone	Area Served
MCSO Headquarters	5525 College Road, Key West, FL 33040	(305) 292-7000	Administration / Lower Keys
Freeman Substation (District 1)	Cudjoe Key, FL	(305) 745-3184	Lower Keys
Marathon Substation (District 4 & 5)	Marathon, FL	(305) 289-2430	Middle Keys
Islamorada Substation (District 6)	Islamorada, FL	(305) 853-7021	Upper-Middle Keys
Plantation Key Substation (District 7)	50 Highpoint Road, Tavernier, FL 33070	(305) 853-3211	Upper Keys

MCSO Headquarters — Stock Island

The main administration building is located on Stock Island at 5525 College Road, Key West, FL 33040. This is where the Sheriff’s Office executive leadership, central records division, administrative staff, and many specialized units are based. If you need to visit MCSO for records requests, fingerprinting, or to meet with command staff, this is typically where you’ll go.

Plantation Key Substation (Roth Building) — Upper Keys

Located at 50 Highpoint Road in Tavernier, the Plantation Key Substation serves as the primary MCSO facility for the Upper Keys region including Key Largo, Tavernier, and Islamorada. This substation also houses records services — you can pick up police reports and obtain fingerprinting services here during normal business hours. Contact the records section at (305) 853-3211.

7. Jail & Detention Facilities

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office operates three detention facilities positioned across the Keys chain. This geographic distribution ensures that individuals arrested in any part of the county can be booked and housed without requiring extremely long transport distances.

Facility	Address	Phone	Area
Key West Jail (Main)	5501 College Road, Key West, FL 33040	(305) 293-7300	Lower Keys
Plantation Key Jail	53 High Point Road, Plantation Key, FL 33037	(305) 853-3266	Upper Keys
Marathon Key Jail	3981 Ocean Terrace, Marathon, FL 33050	(305) 293-7300	Middle Keys

The Key West Jail on Stock Island is the primary facility for longer-term housing, while the Plantation Key and Marathon facilities handle initial bookings and short-term detention for their respective regions. All three facilities are managed under the Corrections Bureau and staffed by the 152 corrections officers employed by MCSO.

To search for inmates currently held in any Monroe County jail, visit the MCSO current arrests page at keysso.net/arrests.

8. How to Contact the Monroe County Sheriff

Emergency Contact

Non-Emergency Contact

Substation Direct Lines

9. Services for Residents & Visitors

The Monroe County Sheriff Department provides a wide range of services beyond standard law enforcement. Here are the key services available to both residents and the over 2 million tourists who visit the Florida Keys each year:

Inmate & Arrest Search

View current arrests and booking information including mugshot photographs on the MCSO website at keysso.net/arrests. This tool is updated regularly as new bookings are processed.

Warrant Lookup

Check for active warrants through the MCSO website. This service is available at keysso.net under the appropriate navigation section.

Sex Offender Registry

Monroe County maintains a Sex Offender Registry in compliance with Florida law. Registered sex offenders must register within 48 hours of moving into the county. The public can search the registry online through the FDLE at fdle.state.fl.us.

Fingerprinting Services

MCSO provides fingerprinting services at the Plantation Key Substation located at 50 Highpoint Road, Tavernier, during normal business hours. Contact (305) 853-3211 for appointment scheduling and pricing.

Victim Services

If you are a victim of a crime in Monroe County, MCSO victim advocates can assist with safety planning, court accompaniment, referrals to community resources, and help navigating the criminal justice process.

MCSO Mobile App

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office offers a free mobile application available on both Android and iOS devices. The app provides real-time arrest notifications, traffic alerts, US-1 road conditions, and community updates — making it especially valuable for both residents and visitors navigating the single-highway Keys corridor.

10. How to Report a Crime or File a Report

11. Public Records & Background Checks

Under Florida’s Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), most records held by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office are public records and available upon request. Here is how to access different types of records:

Police Reports & Incident Records

Contact the MCSO Central Records Division at (305) 292-7050 or visit in person at 5525 College Road, Key West, FL 33040. Reports can also be obtained from the Plantation Key Substation at 50 Highpoint Road, Tavernier, FL 33070.

Online Public Records Requests

Submit formal public records requests through the MCSO’s JustFOIA portal at monroecountysherifffl.justfoia.com/publicportal. This online system allows you to track the status of your request.

Court Records

For case records, dispositions, and court filings, contact the Monroe County Clerk of Courts through the 16th Judicial Circuit at keyscourts.net. Courthouses are located at 302 Fleming Street in Key West and 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 1, in Tavernier.

Criminal Background Checks

For comprehensive criminal history checks, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at fdle.state.fl.us. MCSO records show local arrests only, while FDLE provides statewide criminal history information.

12. Community Programs & Outreach

Sheriff Ramsay has placed strong emphasis on community policing throughout his tenure. MCSO actively engages with the Florida Keys community through several programs and partnerships:

Community Policing: MCSO deputies are trained to build relationships within the communities they serve, with an emphasis on positive interaction, problem-solving, and accessibility. The department’s motto — “Honesty, Professionalism and Commitment to Community” — guides all community interactions.

Environmental Restoration: Under Sheriff Ramsay’s leadership, MCSO has participated in multiple beautification projects restoring environmentally distressed areas across the Keys — a unique initiative reflecting the ecological importance of the Florida Keys ecosystem.

School Resource Officers: The School Resource Officer Division provides security and law enforcement services at Monroe County schools, ensuring student safety while building positive relationships between young people and law enforcement.

Autism Awareness: MCSO patrol vehicles carry sensory boxes designed to help deputies interact effectively with individuals on the autism spectrum. These kits contain calming tools — spinning devices, tactile items, and focus objects — that help deputies de-escalate situations and communicate with autistic individuals.

Social Media Engagement: MCSO maintains one of the most active sheriff’s office social media presences in Florida, with over 120,000 followers on Facebook and an active presence on Instagram and X (Twitter).

13. Insider Tips for Interacting with MCSO

14. Frequently Asked Questions

Official Resources & Links