Key West’s police chief suspended for a week for having officers help him move
Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg has been suspended for five days without pay for having on-duty officers help him move into a new home in July 2019, according to records the city released Wednesday.
Police Capts. Juan R. Torres and Randall G. Smith were suspended for three days without pay for the incident.
The chief and two captains “knowingly permitted” a lieutenant and six police officers — all of whom were on duty, in full uniform and operating city vehicles — to help with the move, the disciplinary forms for each stated.
Lt. David Black and Officers Alexandre Gaufillet, Tyler Getchel, Randall Hartle, Matthew Johnson and Michael Shouldice will receive reprimands and be ordered to go through remedial training, City Manager Greg Veliz said.
A sixth officer is out of town and “must be notified upon return before the reprimand takes place,” city spokeswoman Alyson Crean said.
Brandenburg, whose suspension started Wednesday, will handle those disciplinary actions, Veliz said, because of chain of command.
In addition to the unpaid suspension, Brandenburg must also pay $681 in restitution — equal to one hour of pay for each on-duty officer involved with the move.
Brandenburg moved in Key West on July 15, 2019.
“There were many people that wanted to help,” Veliz said, in announcing the disciplinary action Tuesday evening at a City Commission meeting at City Hall.
But “many officers” were logged in and on duty, Veliz said, and that’s a direct violation of the city code of conduct.
Veliz said many officers were seen in uniform helping with the move and were driving city-owned vehicles.
“A citizen called in back when it happened,” Veliz said Wednesday. “I was assured everyone was off duty.”
But recently, Veliz was shown photos of men in uniform unloading a truck at the Brandenburg home.
“I had never seen that,” Veliz said.
Brandenburg, in a text message Tuesday, said he wanted to meet with Veliz before deciding whether to comment.
“I continue to have confidence in our chief of police and dedicated officers,” said Veliz, who called the incident a “lapse in judgment.”
Brandenburg was sworn in as police chief on Dec. 6, 2018, having worked his way up through police department ranks since being hired April 1, 2002.
His annual salary is $144,799 and he has no other disciplinary actions in his file, according to the human resources department director.
Brandenburg has been a law enforcement officer since 1990, serving 12 years in Indiana before moving to Key West.
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 6:55 PM.
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