Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
With recent heavy rainfall and high tides contributing to flooding throughout the Florida Keys, Sheriff Ramsay cautioned motorists about driving through standing water.
“We’re seeing a lot of pooling water,” Sheriff Ramsay said, noting that flooding has been reported throughout the Keys, including extensive flooding in Key West.
He advised motorists to avoid standing water whenever possible, particularly during high-tide periods when flooding may involve salt water that can damage vehicles.
“If you do drive through standing water, always go very slow. You don’t know what’s under that water, whether how deep it is, whether it’s a pothole,” he said. “So we just got to be a little smart, try to navigate around this, and know where these troublesome, difficult areas are for sure.”
Sheriff Ramsay also reflected on the department’s community outreach efforts over the Halloween weekend, including events in the Upper Keys and a Boo Fest benefiting Presents in Paradise.
Sheriff Ramsay served as a celebrity judge at the annual Boo Fest, which supports families and children in need during the holiday season.
“It’s such a great cause,” he said. “Presents in Paradise, trying to make sure these families and needy kids have a good holiday season. They do such a great job.”
The event included 26 costume entries, with prizes awarded in adult and children’s categories.
On Halloween night, the Sheriff’s Office also provided an extensive security presence at Plantation Key Colony, implementing traffic restrictions and pedestrian safety measures to accommodate the large number of families attending the festivities.
Sheriff Ramsay said officers controlled traffic entering and leaving the community, covered intersections and assisted pedestrians crossing U.S. 1.
He said the department’s presence at community events is part of its commitment to maintaining strong relationships with residents.
“I love seeing the kids running around, there’s just so much respect from the citizens thanking us for being there, for making their nights safe and for being present,” he said.
Sheriff Ramsay said community policing, communication, cooperation and partnerships remain central to the department’s approach.
He also addressed the recent death of former Monroe County Sheriff Reverend Dr. J. Allison DeFoor, the county’s 33rd sheriff, who died at age 72.
Sheriff Ramsay said he worked with DeFoor during his time with the Sheriff’s Office and remained friends with him over the years.
DeFoor was elected sheriff after serving as a local judge and attorney. He later pursued other public service work, including environmental initiatives and ministry.
Sheriff Ramsay described him as a friend who brought a focus on technology, modernization and community-centered approaches to the department.
“He will be missed,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
The Sheriff’s Office lowered its flags to half-staff in his honor. A celebration of life was expected to take place November 12 at Crane Point Hammock.
Sheriff Ramsay also discussed several recent enforcement cases involving drugs and violations of Florida’s environmental and fishing regulations.
In one incident, deputies stopped a truck in the Upper Keys near mile marker 101 at approximately 9:30 p.m. because it had only one functioning headlight.
During the stop, deputies detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A law enforcement canine subsequently alerted to the presence of narcotics.
A search uncovered cocaine and marijuana, along with a cooler containing undersized mangrove snapper, an undersized mutton snapper and other seafood violations.
Sheriff Ramsay said the driver, a 59-year-old man, accepted responsibility for the violations.
The man was charged with multiple drug-related, environmental and traffic offenses. Sheriff Ramsay said the case demonstrates how routine traffic enforcement can uncover additional violations.
He noted that the driver had 13 undersized mangrove snapper and one undersized mutton snapper.
In another incident, a resident walking along a beach near mile marker 75 in the Lower Keys discovered a package containing approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine.
Sheriff Ramsay said the package, weighing approximately 2.2 pounds, was wrapped to protect it from the water and bore an image of Tom from the cartoon Tom and Jerry.
A field test indicated the substance was cocaine. The package was turned over to federal authorities for further investigation and intelligence gathering.
Sheriff Ramsay explained that markings on packages of this type generally identify the intended recipient rather than the location from which the drugs originated.
He said federal authorities will examine the package to determine how long it may have been in the water and whether it could be connected to a known drug shipment.
He added that the discovery is another reminder of the Keys’ location along a drug-trafficking corridor.
The sheriff also discussed a case involving a 66-year-old Wisconsin man arrested for multiple lobster-harvesting violations near Sunshine Key.
Marine Deputy Louis Guiardinu observed the man diving for lobster from a kayak without displaying a required diver-down flag. The deputy also reportedly saw the man collecting lobster without measuring them and spearing lobster.
When the deputy attempted to bring the man to shore, the individual paddled away despite multiple orders to stop.
Sheriff Ramsay said deputies watched as the man discarded a bag of lobster into the mangroves before eventually taking him into custody.
An investigation determined the man had an excessive number of lobster, including undersized and speared lobster. He also did not have a measuring device or a diver-down flag.
Sheriff Ramsay said the man was arrested on multiple charges, including environmental violations, destruction of evidence and obstruction.
He said the decision to make a physical arrest was based on the number and severity of the violations, as well as the man’s actions when deputies attempted to stop him.
Sheriff Ramsay said the department takes environmental crimes seriously because illegal harvesting threatens the area’s natural resources and the way of life in the Keys.
He noted that the Sheriff’s Office works with State Attorney Dennis Ward and the courts to hold offenders accountable.
“We’re going to keep doing our job and keep trying to send a strong message of presence, enforcement, and accountability,” he said.
Another environmental enforcement case involved a 54-year-old Jacksonville man accused of illegally spearing an undersized snook near the Long Key Bridge.
Marine Deputy Willie Guerra observed the man spearfishing in an area where spearfishing is prohibited. Deputies also determined the fish was an undersized snook.
Sheriff Ramsay said snook cannot legally be speared anywhere, and spearfishing is prohibited north of the Long Key Bridge.
The man initially attempted to conceal the fish but eventually brought it to shore.
Because of medical issues, deputies elected to issue the man a notice to appear in court rather than make a physical arrest. Sheriff Ramsay said the individual had previously been arrested in another environmental case.
He said the department would make sure State Attorney Dennis Ward was aware of the man’s history.
Sheriff Ramsay said environmental enforcement remains challenging because of the size of the area deputies are responsible for patrolling.
He estimated that even with 100 officers working, the department would still struggle to keep up with the workload on the water.
Looking ahead, Sheriff Ramsay also discussed the upcoming powerboat races in Key West, scheduled for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will assist Key West Police by sending patrol boats to the water each day.
Sheriff Ramsay said deputies will help keep spectators away from the racecourse, ensure boat traffic does not interfere with the races and respond to any emergencies.
He warned boaters against attempting to cross the racecourse while events are underway.
The races feature boats capable of reaching speeds of up to 140 miles per hour.
Sheriff Ramsay encouraged residents and visitors to take advantage of the event, whether watching from the water or from locations along the Key West shoreline, while following safety instructions.
He said the Sheriff’s Office is looking forward to working with Key West Police and race organizers to ensure the events are safe for participants and spectators.