Longboat Key swears in new police chief

The official swearing in ceremony of the town of Longboat Key's new police chief, Russ Mager, took a little longer than expected.

Perhaps it was first-day jitters, or just inexperience.

Not from Mager; he's ready to go and has years of experience. 

No, they came from his wife, Beth, who took several moments to make it official by pinning his new badge on his uniform.

"I gotta tell you, my hands were shaking a little bit," Beth Mager said. "It's so emotional. I'm so proud of him."

Russ Mager was chosen out of 76 applicants in Longboat Key’s nationwide search to replace Chief George Turner, who left the department in January.

"I'm excited to be here, and the people here have been so welcoming," Mager said. "It's just been a great transition to go from what comes to another or a whole new town, a whole new life."

The previous life was that of a 29-year veteran of the Delray Beach police, ending with being the city's police chief since 2022.

Mager started in Delray Beach in 1996 and since has served as a SWAT team member, detective, sergeant and lieutenant.

"I think it was being in a coastal community in Florida," said Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton of why Mager was the best fit for the position. "So he's got that storm experience, which is helpful with the hospitality experiences that we have out here and I think, just as interpersonal, I think he's very engaging kind of very connected, and I think that'll go a long way here on this island."

Mager said being visible in the community is a key factor, which he got to experience firsthand when police department members of Longboat Key, Bradenton Beach, Sarasota and Manatee County Sheriffs and Florida Highway Patrol packed Longboat Key Town Hall. 

That's also not to mention Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi, town commissioners and town residents also in attendance.

"I didn't know I would have this kind of reception, so it means a tremendous amount," Mager said after being sworn in by Tipton.

He went on to say that having experience in a coastal community on the east coast is not unlike being in Longboat, especially when it comes to battling hurricanes.

"They're very similar except (Longboat) is exclusively a barrier island," he said. "They're similar in the responsibilities that come with it and that includes hurricanes. Although we're not looking forward to that. Hopefully, we had enough of that last year."

In spite of it being his first day, Mager said he hasn't had the time to evaluate to institute any initial plans yet. His first step will be getting out in the community and assessing the needs of the department.

"I'm going to get out there and see the relationships that need to be addressed," He said. "I need to establish what are the issues that my knowledge, training and experience will help me build on, and what I think possible needs are. That's whether it be technology or something related to traffic or something else."

Mager's salary starts at $160,000 during a six-month probationary period, and he'll receive a 3% increase after the probationary period ends.

Mager and his family moved to the area in the last week of July. He has a 22-year-old daughter, Sophia, and two sons, Donovan, 18, and Zander, 17.

Beth Mager, who went to Riverview High in Sarasota, recently retired from law enforcement herself, ending her career as a sergeant with the city of Coral Gables.

"I moved here when I was 12," she said. "My friends and family are still here, so this makes it full circle."

With Beth's background, though, she was never at the part of pinning the badge on, but rather receiving a new badge. As a police chief, Russ has experience at that too.

"They're never easy though, they never go in nicely," he said.