New Longboat Key police officer brings force to 19

During Jorge Castro’s swearing-in ceremony, he told his new fellow officers that family brought him to Florida. Family also played a part in his decision to join the Longboat Key Police Department.

“The family-oriented feeling that I have felt here so far is amazing,” said Castro, the newest Longboat Key Police Department officer. “What I heard and what I learned about the employees and people living here is fantastic.”

Castro, born in Puerto Rico, is bilingual, which Police Chief Russ Mager said is a plus.

“Huge plus. You just don’t know when you’ll come across those who speak Spanish. It’s definitely helpful,” Mager said. “You want to have as many people as possible that might be able to speak extra languages just to be available to any complainants or victims or even just general conversation. It’s nice to have somebody who can speak a second language.”

Castro most recently worked for the Bradenton Beach Police Department for a short stint beginning in November. He also has experience at the Bradenton Police Department and Leesburg Police Department in Virginia. Castro said his six years of experience largely consists of traffic enforcement and traffic homicide investigation. Now with the Longboat Key Police Department, Castro said he hopes to engrain himself in the community.

“I think what I like about this place is the opportunity to connect with people and be community policing oriented. That’s very important for me,” Castro said. “I like to make contact with people, get out of the car and talk to people all the time. When you do that, you find a lot of things about the needs of the community, what they like, what they don’t. That’s the way you connect with the people.”

Castro was sworn in less than a month after another new officer, Albert Miano Jr., was brought on board. With a police force of 19 and just one opening left to fill, Mager said the additional personnel will allow the force to increase marine patrols and beach patrols.

“As I mentioned in the past, when the deputy chief retired it seemed like the police department was better served by having more officers as opposed to more command level," he said. 

The town doesn't have a full-time marine officer, but whenever possible, Mager said he tries to assign an officer to that duty. 

“We’re a barrier island. We want people on the boat as much as possible," he said.

Castro lives in Apollo Beach with his wife, Melissa, a teacher at Palmetto Elementary School.