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Mayor Keith A. James Announces Greg Key as City's Public Safety Liaison, Special Assistant
Key Brings 30+ Years West Palm Beach Law Enforcement, Community Outreach Experience to Position
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (April 24, 2019) – West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James announces Greg Key as Special Assistant to the Mayor for Public Safety. As the Mayor's Public Safety Liaison, Mr. Key will be tasked with assessing the performance and policies of the City's public safety operations-- which includes the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), West Palm Beach Fire Department, Code Enforcement and Emergency Management --and making recommendations to the Mayor.
Mr. Key will be responsible for evaluating and recommending improvements to public safety policies and procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental operations. The work involves directing research and analysis to uncover operational and administrative opportunities for improvement and, subsequently, proposing solutions. The public safety liaison will work closely with the administration of public safety departments to make the assessments and recommendations required to fulfill this position. This position reports to the Mayor and works under the direction of the Mayor and the City Administrator as needed.
"I am happy to announce Greg Key as the City's Public Safety Liaison in the Office of the Mayor," said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. "I am confident that Mr. Key's broad public safety experience, demonstrated leadership experience, and strong ties to the City West Palm Beach will make him particularly effective in this position."
Prior to joining the City of West Palm Beach, Mr. Key was employed as an investigator in the Office of the State Attorney in Palm Beach County for two years. Having previously worked for the City of West Palm Beach (CWPB) for more than 30 years as a WPBPD Sergeant, Mr. Key has had a broad range of public safety responsibilities including:
Sergeant of Traffic;
Sergeant of Criminal Investigations Division;
Major Crimes Detective Sergeant, Major Incidents;
Sergeant of Patrol Division;
Sergeant of Community Services;
Administrative Sergeant of Police Services;
Sergeant of Special Events (Coordinator);
Sergeant of Police Intelligence Unit;
Sergeant of Police Crime Prevention;
Sergeant of Dignitary Protection;
F.B.I. Task Force Supervisor;
U.S. Marshal Task Force Supervisor;
Instructor of Homicide Investigations and Critical Incidents;
And S.W.A.T. Supervisor, S.W.A.T. Team.
Mr. Key earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies at Barry University and is a graduate of the Palm Beach Community College Police Academy. Mr. Key has also been decorated with numerous awards including West Palm Beach Police Officer of the Year, Minority Law Enforcement Council's Officer of the Year (1987), Combat Cross, and Meritorious Service Award. He has worked as a baseball coach for area high schools. He has served on the Attorney General's Committee on Preventing Crime in the Black Community as well as on the Board of Directors of Harvest Community Church.