Policing Update: Press Talks Crime, Security and Safety

Key Biscayne Police Station, Oct. 7. Police Chief Charles Press spoke to Key News last week on the force’s latest initiatives. (Key NewsAnnali Hayward)

Residents worried about the recent spate of car thefts on Key Biscayne can take heart. Chief of Police Charles Press is on it. 

Increasing staffing, changes to beats and considerable overtime are the key remedies Press is using to tackle the problem. “I don’t like to jinx us, but things are going great,” he said. 

The 11 thefts – the subject of an intense political controversy last month – mark a drastic increase from 2018, and each case involved a vehicle with keys left inside. The perpetrators were part of a major organized crime ring that, according to Press, has “hit every high end city in South Florida all the way up through Broward County.”

Key Biscayne Police officers have made arrests in all cases – but they won’t stop there. Press confirmed this week the force has permanently increased staffing on the night shift, as well as made changes to some of the ways they patrol.

Increasing overtime helped “stop the bleeding and let the bad guys know we’re serious” about protecting Key Biscayne homes and properties, Press said. “It was extremely effective.”

Press also revealed the department identified funding in the recently-approved budget (through salary savings) to create some special enforcement details – or what he referred to as occasional “task force-type policing.”

“We used to have these in every budget for years, but we lost them in the last three years,” said Press. “We’re working with the Manager to get that back, and looking forward to it.” 

This is important, explained Press, because the Key is not a gated community. With over 10,000 cars coming in and out every day, the assumption is it is easy to see every person that comes in.

“Not true,” said Press. “We had a bike theft last week – turns out the car they came in was a Mercedes-Benz.” 

Press expressed empathy with victims but reiterated the department’s no-chase policy, explaining there are many aspects to “lawful” policing. 

Despite the crimes, Press said the Village continues to be a very safe place. “I see every day our children riding to school by themselves, families walking and riding golf carts exposed. So I truly believe our Village feels safe.”

Exclusive: new initiative to launch

People may feel even safer soon, with a new initiative launching this week. 

“It’s Time” is a national program aimed at encouraging the public to help police officers do their job more effectively by “taking responsibility” – locking cars, taking keys inside and using home security systems, for example.

Press said the program will offer an app that can remind users to check their property at selected intervals. But this does not mean he and his team are abdicating responsibility. 

“We’re using whatever tools we can, because we realize we’ve got a tough job,” he said, “but 26,000 eyes are better than 72 – so if you see something you don’t like, call us at any time.”

Speed cheat chatter

Turning to the problem of speeding, Press was unconcerned about residents sharing information via social media and chat messaging about so-called “speed traps” set up in and around the Key. 

“We’re not looking for stats. It doesn’t matter if we write a ticket or not,” said Press. “If these chats force people to slow down so they don’t get stopped by cops that is just as effective as writing a ticket: the end result is a slower driver.” 

Adapting to new signals 

Meanwhile, traffic at certain intersections should see a reprieve by December as adaptive signaling finally arrives. 

“We are working feverishly to get the County to allow us to finish this project, four years in,” said Press.

Miami-Dade County recently rejected the force’s timing proposal at two intersections, meaning a do-over and reapplication for County approval. “Once that’s done we can start to finish the boxes and get our traffic signals done.”

Press said the signals will “do their best to create some movement” at peak times, by recognizing streets without vehicles waiting so green signals are not wasted there. 

“I want people to understand that this is not the panacea,” said Press. “It’s not going to make traffic go away – but we will see a release.”