Police Chief Hopes for Positive Discussions at Town Hall

Police Chief Charles Press will answer questions about how the Village is policed at special Town Hall at 6 pm Tuesday in the Village Council Chambers. (Key News/Tony Winton)

Police Chief Charles Press will answer questions about how the Village is policed at special Town Hall at 6 pm Tuesday in the Village Council Chambers. It will be broadcast live on Channels 77 and 99.

Press says he is open-minded about the event and will answer all questions transparently “to the best of my ability.”

The Town Hall was set up after Council Member Luis Lauredo questioned policing in November following a spate of auto thefts. He called for police to engage in car chases, which Press explained was not the policy in non-violent property offenses.

Lauredo also wanted to clarify comments on racial profiling, which came up at a disruptive September council meeting. Chief Press had replied that his department adheres to court rulings prohibiting racial profiling. The department policy is on its website.

Press hopes politics will be avoided at the Town Hall, but the evening is expected to include discussions of Rickenbacker Causeway, property theft, home safety, pedestrian safety, golf cart rules and homelessness on the Key.

The police chief anticipates no discussions of “crime waves,” because “thank God we don’t have any.”

The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation by Press, touching on personnel, equipment, services, performance, policy and the impact of specialized police units on the community.

Village Manager Andrea Agha will facilitate an open question-and-answer session.

Press doesn’t know what topics will come up, but he says, “I respect the citizens of the Village of Key Biscayne. There are some fabulous people here who can have an intelligent conversation, whether we agree or not.”