Welcome to the Town of Longboat Key Police Department website. This website is updated regularly with new information about ways the community and the Longboat Key Police Department are working together to make life better for our residents and visitors. We are proud of the excellent standing we hold in our community, providing the highest level of service with a valued reputation of being one of the safest towns in Florida. The Longboat Key Police Department is comprised of 19 full-time Police Officers, 5 part-time Police Officers, and 3 civilian employees.  The waters surrounding Longboat Key are protected by the police department’s marine unit, responsible for enforcement and boater safety along the gulf coast, inter-coastal and bay waters. The members of the police department are committed to protecting the community’s unique quality of life for its citizens, visitors and future residents by providing high quality, professional police service.

Accreditation Update

The Longboat Key Police Department is very proud to announce that the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation met on Thursday, February 22, 2024, in St. Augustine FL and unanimously voted to award the Longboat Key Police Department with State of Florida Accreditation. 

The Longboat Key Police Department had to comply with 235 standards to receive accredited status, and many standards are critical to life, health, safety issues, and best practices. The initial accreditation is valid for a period of three years, with re-accreditation earned every three years thereafter. 

The Longboat Key Police accreditation process began with a Self-Assessment in June of 2021. This Self­ Assessment period included the complete writing and or updating of policies, procedures and General Orders. This also included but was not limited to updating our evidence procedures, reviewing and updating police equipment and training needs, and making significate changes to our building security to comply with state accreditation standards and best practices. 

On January 04, 2023, the Police Department signed the official contract with the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement which started the clock on the formal review period to begin our commitment to pursue professional excellence through accreditation. 

On September 05, 2023, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation scheduled and notified the police department that our final Accreditation Assessment had been scheduled for December 05 - 7th, 2023. This State appointed team of Certified Assessors included accreditation professionals from the Broward Sheriff's Office, the St Lucia County Sheriff's Office and the Doral Police Department. 

On Tuesday December 05, 2023, the State Assessment Team arrived at the Longboat Key Police Department to begin the extensive three-day review of the Longboat Key Police Department. Upon completion of the formal assessment, inspection and review the State Accreditation Assessment Team met with the Police Department Command Staff and Town Manager Howard Tipton to review the final assessment report. The Assessment Team advised that the Longboat Key Police Department had met all Florida Accreditation standards and requirements and were in 100% compliance. 

In the final assessment report, the Accreditation Assessment Team Leader, Michael Samberg wrote: 

"The Longboat Key Police Department is a we/I-managed police department. Chief Turner and his command staff are very professional law enforcement officers and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the agency. They worked very hard for a long time to bring the agency into compliance with accreditation standards. Every member of the agency the team interacted with was professional and knowledgeable about their duties, responsibilities, and the agency's policies. This was an agency that really worked hard to become accredited." 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Longboat Key Police Department is to safeguard life and property, preserve the peace, prevent and detect crime and enforce the law while protecting the rights of all citizens.

Chief George B. Turner

Chief George B. Turner was appointed the Longboat Key Police Chief on April 30, 2021.

Chief Turner started his law enforcement career in the State of New York, in 1976, retiring on January 01, 2000 after 24 years of honorable service. He then moved to the State of Florida where he was hired by the Longboat Key Police Department, serving as a Patrol Captain from 2001 – 2007.

Chief Turner became the Chief of Police, City of Brooksville, Florida in September of 2007, and served there until his retirement on March 14, 2018.  During his time in Brooksville Chief Turner was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve as a Commissioner on the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission from 2013 - 2018. That commission ended with his Brooksville Police retirement in 2018.   

Chief Turner is a graduate of 193^rd session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, and holds a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the State University of New York.

Chief Turner came out of retirement on April 30, 2021, returning to the Longboat Key Police Department as the Chief of Police.