Updates from the Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Rick Ramsay's strong desire to serve his community led him to attend the Florida Keys Institute of Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Academy Class of 1987. Upon graduation he began his career with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office as a road patrol deputy. During his thirty-one year career with the MCSO he was promoted through the ranks serving in patrol, investigations, special operations and corrections, prior to his promotion to undersheriff in 2004. In 2012 he ran for sheriff and was elected with an overwhelming majority of the vote. Sheriff Ramsay run unopposed in 2016 attaining another four year term as Sheriff of Monroe County. 
In addition to his law enforcement assignment, for fifteen years Sheriff Ramsay has served as a volunteer firefighter in Marathon, rising to the rank of deputy chief. Sheriff Ramsay counts his many years as a volunteer firefighter as some of his most satisfying in public service during which period he also held the title of Chief of Marathon Rescue. Sheriff Rick Ramsay is the most decorated deputy in the history of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, receiving ninety-three commendations of merit. He has received all the awards the Office bestows including the medal of valor for saving the life of a man trapped in a drainage pipe filled with lethal fumes. 
While Sheriff Ramsay commanded several departments of the agency during his career, he also continued his education attending numerous courses and seminars. Among them he lists the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course and the National Sheriffs' Institute Executive Training. 
From the beginning of his term as Sheriff, Rick Ramsay has led the Monroe County Sheriffs Office giving great emphasis to Community Policing. Ever since, he has achieved remarkable results including a significant reduction in the crime rate and many noteworthy beautification projects restoring environmentally distressed areas countywide. His successful leadership model has been featured in several articles from both local and state publications. 
Sheriff Ramsay's community involvement is clearly reflected by his affiliation with many non·profit and charitable associations. He has been awarded the Community Foundation Unsung Hero Award three times, the Samuel's House Men of Valor Award 2012, the Fire Fighter of the Year Award and the Imogene Synan Award 2014. He is an active board member for the Florida Keys Children Shelter, WestCare Guidance Center, the Monroe Association of Remarkable Citizens, Monroe County D.U.I. Coalition, United Way of Monroe County, The Military Affairs Committee and the Area Maritime Security Committee. 
Sheriff Rick Ramsay has been recently appointed to the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and, in October 2014, the National Sheriffs Association officially announced the achievement by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office of the prestigious "Triple Crown" status. Only by attaining simultaneous accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA); The Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC) of the American Correctional Association (ACA); and, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHA) does a sheriffs office receives this award. Sheriff Ramsay's agency is only one of 38 Sheriffs Offices nationwide to have attained this status.