Late Chief Assistant State Attorney Honored

Mayor Craig Cates and City Commissioners Richard Payne and Sam Kaufman have proclaimed January 7th through the 15th as Manny Madruga Week in honor the dedicated Chief Assistant State Attorney who died in November.

Commissioner Payne, a retired judge, spoke compassionately to Madruga’s daughter Natalie and her mother Annie, remembering Madruga as a consummate public servant dedicated to justice.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Manuel E. “Manny” Madruga, following graduation from the University of Miami Law School in 1990, served his entire 27-year legal career as a prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in Monroe County.

“As career prosecutor, he devoted his entire life to working closely with all branches of law enforcement including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key West Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and numerous other local and state and federal law enforcement and criminal justice agencies,” said Payne, “leading to the successful prosecution of thousands of serious, often horrific crimes and earning him the respect of not only the criminal justice community but the many crime victims, witnesses, victim advocates and jurors who witnessed firsthand his dedication and respect for the law and the pursuit of justice.”

Madruga provided leadership and guidance to many young attorneys just beginning their prosecutorial careers. He continually providing training and counsel to the law enforcement and criminal justice community, which included serving as an instructor in the Prosecutors and Public Defenders Educational Program at the University of Florida.

Madruga’s exemplary work both in and out of the courtroom did not go unnoticed by his peers. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious Gene Barry Award naming him the best prosecutor in the State of Florida, the highest honor a prosecutor in the State of Florida can achieve.

Madruga also devoted countless hours of his free time to give back to the community through his volunteer service as a board member of the MARC House, Leadership Monroe, Key West Ambassador Program, Boys & Girls Club, Rotary and the Masonic Lodge.

“The results of Manny’s good works in our community and the respect and dedication Manny held for, and earned from, our law enforcement and criminal justice community and the citizens of this City will remain an example for all of us,” said Payne.

In the photo: Mayor Craig Cates, City Commissioner and retired Judge Richard Payne, Natalie and Annie Madruga, Commissioner Sam Kaufman.

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