Key West Police Department Officer Of The Month

 

THIS MONTH WE COMMEND OFFICER TYLER GETCHEL. OFFICER GETCHEL CAME TO THE KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2018 AND SERVES WITH DEDICATION ON THE MARINE UNIT. DURING HIS TIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT, HE HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO NEVER SAYS NO. HE HAS SERVED AS ROAD PATROL AND IN THE MARINE UNIT AND CONSISTENTLY OFFERS TO GO WHERE HE IS MOST NEEDED. HE WAS NAMED OFFICER OF THE YEAR IN 2022. HE WAS RECENTLY COMMENDED BY THE DOLPHIN LIFE RESCUE GROUP FOR HIS ROLE IN A MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, THE DOLPHIN LIFE RESCUE TEAM RESPONDED TO A STRANDING OF 12 SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALES FOUR MILES OFF KEY WEST. THEY REQUESTED ASSISTANCE AND OFFICER GETCHEL RESPONDED WITHOUT HESITATION. IT WAS A LENGTHY OPERATION IN WHICH FIVE OF THE 12 EVENTUALLY PERISHED WHILE SEVEN SURVIVED. OFFICER GETCHEL SPENT AN EXTENDED LENGTH OF TIME IN THE MURKY AND SHARK-INFESTED WATER. HIS QUICK RESPONSE, SUPERIOR SEAMANSHIP, WILLINGNESS TO ENTER HAZARDOUS WATERS, AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE MISSION EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE, COURAGE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. OFFICER TYLER GETCHEL, THE BACK THE BLUE OFFICER OF THE MONTH.