Night Watch Earns Award in Migrant Case

Officers Erik Roberts, Dustin Christina, and Jesse Torrecillas, Sgt. Cynthia Williams, Chief Sean Brandenburg, Officers Jack Gruba, Randolph Ham, Matt Hansell, and James Young, and Sgt. Marcus del Valle.

Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg, during a recent awards ceremony hosted by the Grand Key Resort, recognized the Alpha Night Watch with a Unit Award.

On June 26^th, Alpha Night officers were dispatched to a possible migrant vessel spotted offshore near 1800 Atlantic. Upon arrival officers discovered a chaotic scene of migrants jumping off the vessel and heading towards the beach and nature preserve.

Quickly, the entire shift was on scene, setting a perimeter. The migrants were fleeing from officers, hiding in the mangroves. As the migrants continued to flee from officers in various directions, officers continued to tighten the perimeter, eventually, leading the migrants out of the mangroves.

Each officer proactively took a role in this incident and executed it thoroughly. Officers worked together and shared the responsibilities of ensuring the safety and security of the migrants, ensuring medical attention and water was provided, and ensuring the containment and accountability of the migrants.

“Through the seamless teamwork of the officers,” said Chief Brandenburg, “and the timely multi-agency responses, all 122 migrants who were reported to have fled Haiti and arrived on the shores of Key West were recovered safely.”