- Report: #431449
Complaint Review: Key West Police Department - Key West Florida
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Key West Police Department
N. Roosevelt Blvd Key West, 33040 Florida, U.S.A.
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305-809-1111
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Key West Police Department Arrogant Officers, Even More Arrogant Supervisors, Rude, Unprofessional Key West Florida
I am going to start this off by saying that I know the overwhelming majority of police officers are good people who try to do the right thing. Most departments have mostly good officers with one or two bad apples.
But when the hell is Monroe County and the city of Key West going to say enough is enough with this arrogant department? I've read story after story about mistreatment (mostly verbal abuse) of citizens, but now I've had the displeasure of dealing with these people myself.
Last week, I was in Key West and was the victim of a hit and run accident. It was relatively minor; about $1,000 dollars worth. Unfortunately, the damage was on the rear of my car, so I did not notice it until I got home in Big Pine Key. I washed my car that day and knew the damage was not present before going to Key West. I called my insurance company, who told me that I needed a police report. I first called MCSO, but since the hit and run occurred in Key West, I had to file the report with them. Understandable.
First, I called KWPD and asked if I could do the report over the phone. They said no. I had to drive 30 miles back to their department. This was inconvenient, but I can understand that they needed to see the damage for a fair assessment.
I arrived at KWPD and was met by a very young and very rookie officer named David Corey. Officer Corey did everything in his power to avoid writing a police report. In the time it took him to complain about how MCSO didn't do it, question how I knew it happened in Key West, question me 3 more times about how I knew it happened in Key West, and try to tell me that I should just call my insurance company, he could have written the report twice. Finally, after 15 minutes of dealing with this officer's arrogance, I asked for his supervisor. I was appalled at how he refused to tell me who his supervisor was or how he wouldn't call for him. Throughout all this, Officer Corey was rolling his eyes and constantly letting out a loud sigh, making it more than obvious I was an inconvenience to him. At one point, he even said "I have 6 other reports to write." When I told him that all I needed at that point to satisfy my insurance company was a report number, he refused to give me one. To make matters worse, he only asked for me to describe the damage. He refused to walk 50 feet to the parking lot and look at the back of my car. This was the whole reason I couldn't do it over the phone.
Finally, when I got in touch with a supervisor, which I had to track down myself (Sgt Williams, I believe), all he did was back his officer and refuse to hear what I had to say. He was even more arrogant and immature than Officer Corey.
I was the victim here. This whole ordeal was about 5 hours out of my day, compared to the 10 minutes it would have taken him to write a simple report. There is no cause for supposed professionals to act this way. What is with the attitudes of these officers in Key West?
Now, a week later, I have a report number, but no report. I have been told 2 days straight that the report is not approved, so I can't have it. All it needs is a Sgt's signature.
I have never had this sort of run-in with Monroe County. The deputies are leaps and bound more professional than KWPD. Where does KWPD get these people? From what I understand, KWPD pays more than MCSO. If this is case, why can't KWPD get the quality of officers that MCSO has? It must be a supervisor problem that starts at the very top.
By the way, this isn't my first problem with them. This was just the final straw.
From reading these boards, I know there are other Keys residents reading this. Has anyone else had these problems? How do you deal with this sort of thing when the supervisors won't even hear it?
Dan
Big Pine Key, Florida
U.S.A.
But when the hell is Monroe County and the city of Key West going to say enough is enough with this arrogant department? I've read story after story about mistreatment (mostly verbal abuse) of citizens, but now I've had the displeasure of dealing with these people myself.
Last week, I was in Key West and was the victim of a hit and run accident. It was relatively minor; about $1,000 dollars worth. Unfortunately, the damage was on the rear of my car, so I did not notice it until I got home in Big Pine Key. I washed my car that day and knew the damage was not present before going to Key West. I called my insurance company, who told me that I needed a police report. I first called MCSO, but since the hit and run occurred in Key West, I had to file the report with them. Understandable.
First, I called KWPD and asked if I could do the report over the phone. They said no. I had to drive 30 miles back to their department. This was inconvenient, but I can understand that they needed to see the damage for a fair assessment.
I arrived at KWPD and was met by a very young and very rookie officer named David Corey. Officer Corey did everything in his power to avoid writing a police report. In the time it took him to complain about how MCSO didn't do it, question how I knew it happened in Key West, question me 3 more times about how I knew it happened in Key West, and try to tell me that I should just call my insurance company, he could have written the report twice. Finally, after 15 minutes of dealing with this officer's arrogance, I asked for his supervisor. I was appalled at how he refused to tell me who his supervisor was or how he wouldn't call for him. Throughout all this, Officer Corey was rolling his eyes and constantly letting out a loud sigh, making it more than obvious I was an inconvenience to him. At one point, he even said "I have 6 other reports to write." When I told him that all I needed at that point to satisfy my insurance company was a report number, he refused to give me one. To make matters worse, he only asked for me to describe the damage. He refused to walk 50 feet to the parking lot and look at the back of my car. This was the whole reason I couldn't do it over the phone.
Finally, when I got in touch with a supervisor, which I had to track down myself (Sgt Williams, I believe), all he did was back his officer and refuse to hear what I had to say. He was even more arrogant and immature than Officer Corey.
I was the victim here. This whole ordeal was about 5 hours out of my day, compared to the 10 minutes it would have taken him to write a simple report. There is no cause for supposed professionals to act this way. What is with the attitudes of these officers in Key West?
Now, a week later, I have a report number, but no report. I have been told 2 days straight that the report is not approved, so I can't have it. All it needs is a Sgt's signature.
I have never had this sort of run-in with Monroe County. The deputies are leaps and bound more professional than KWPD. Where does KWPD get these people? From what I understand, KWPD pays more than MCSO. If this is case, why can't KWPD get the quality of officers that MCSO has? It must be a supervisor problem that starts at the very top.
By the way, this isn't my first problem with them. This was just the final straw.
From reading these boards, I know there are other Keys residents reading this. Has anyone else had these problems? How do you deal with this sort of thing when the supervisors won't even hear it?
Dan
Big Pine Key, Florida
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Dan
Big Pine Key,Florida,
U.S.A.
Update
#2Author of original report
Thu, March 11, 2010
I just want to follow up on my original report. It took 3 weeks for my report to get a Sgt's signature. KWPD refused to give me a copy of my own report for 3 weeks! Officer David Corey never gave me a number to call him directly, so I had to keep calling their dispacth center and keep leaving messages for him. He did not return one single call, nor did Sgt Williams. Luckily, my insurance company went forward without having the full report in hand.
All I can do is be thankful I do not live in the city of Key West and I do not have to rely on them for anything important.
Michael
Summerland Key,Florida,
U.S.A.
KWPD Problems Start At The Top
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 07, 2009
When I first saw the title, I thought it was another Robert Krutko diatribe. I'm sorry to say that I am relieved to see a legitimate complaint. Dan, if you are not aware, a Citizen's Review Board (CRB) was created several years ago in Key West. You may want to give them a call. I'm not sure if they handle complaints of rudeness and laziness, but it's worth a try. Otherwise, you are reflecting the complaints of many Keys (and non-Keys) citizens. There are officers in that department that should not have a job with their history of complaints. One officer named Pablo comes to mind. This problem starts at the top. If the top brass are arrogant, it's only natural that their followers will be. Most officers come out of the academy with a 10 foot wide badge. It takes seasoned and mature leaders to correct the over zealous behavior and mold the youngsters into decent cops. Unfortunately, KWPD lacks these leaders. The supervisors are equally over zealous and equally arrogant. Ok, I'm sure you know all that already. I also suggest doing what the last poster said. File a complaint with Professional Standards, or their Internal Affairs department. Unfortunately, I have a feeling they will say it's unfounded.
Leonard
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
It is Florida Law Enforcement - What more can I say
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, March 06, 2009
Florida law enforcement is the laughing stock of america. It has the ignorance of the south and the criminal element of the east. The WORST of both worlds. The chief of KWPD is an idiot. Your only hope is to contact Lt David Smith. He is in charge of "Professional Standards" - a joke I know - BUT - PUSH a personnel complaint - DONT let him talk you out of making one. They are required by law to accept your complaint and investigate it. It doesnt mean that they have to make an intelligent investigation, just that they need to do it Dont be afraid to call the chief - Be polite but firm in your complaint. Good Luck
