Longboat police chief talks digital security with Kiwanians

By Dana Kampa
| 9:15 a.m. April 4, 2026

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding welcomes guest speaker Longboat Police Chief Russ Mager to update members about his approach to leadership since he assumed the role last autumn at the April 2 meeting.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager officially started his term last August, and since then, he has made it his mission to connect with residents through housing associations, religious organizations, public events and more.

Most recently, he spoke with members of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key on April 2, sharing the story of how his career led him to the island after leading the Delray Beach Police Department for several years. He also touched on what his initial half-year of serving the community has taught him so far.

Education and collaboration lie at the heart of successful community policing, Mager explained.

"My philosophy here is just to keep everybody safe," he said of the visible police presence on the island.

Town of Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager was the special guest speaker at the April 2 Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key meeting at the Lazy Lobster.

He said positive community engagement is especially important for issues like digital security.

When it comes to online scams, Mager said time is of the essence. A victim may hesitate to report a crime after feeling embarrassed for falling for a ruse, and the chief acknowledged that it can be difficult to feel vulnerable in the aftermath. However, the sooner someone reports the crime, the better chance law enforcement has of finding a better outcome.

He said the department has informational presentations prepared to offer groups like home associations, and he encouraged community leaders to reach out.

Mager said he has found education to be an important component of policing on the Key. Rather than mandating ticket quotas for his officers, he said he believes in supporting their decision-making for when a warning is sufficient for issues like expired tags.

As season begins to wind down, Mager said the department will be focusing on more educational outreach opportunities.

Reflecting on his first months on Longboat Key, he said, "Everyone here is super nice. My biggest issue here is that I'm arguing not to cross the street when the person in the car is telling me to cross, not even in the crosswalk. It really is a pleasure to be here."

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.