Florida Keys

[LHPCop]

With the cost of living so high in the Keys, how does Law Enforcement live? I would love to live in the Keys, but I don't see how a Cop can survivie on the Salary. Where is living affordable? Are there apartments/rentals that are affordable?

Just Curious......seems like my dream to live in and Patrol a Coastal Community is out of reach!

[miami-k9]

Many live in single bedroom apts with a working spouse and limit themselves to one kid. Some just live north of the keys in Florida City or homestead and have hellatious commutes. Alot of them have roommates. Some scored trailers ($300-400k) years ago and do okay. There are a few apt buildings that are pro-police enough to give them pretty good discounts for living there so long as they have a takehome car.

[njsurfer]

i found out today that you can live in fort myers and easily commute to key west, its a simple short 3 hour ferry ride.

Seriously, key west is awesome id love to work there, but i hear you, theres no way to live there and a commute like that would drive me crazy.

[LHPCop]

I saw prices for Trailers in the $300,000 range...That's Nuts!!! I got married in the Keys and I spoke to a deputy who told me that he had a second job cleaning hotel rooms.

It's to bad.

[Baker54]

My dad worked MCSO years ago and lived in Key Largo. He had a vacuum and small engine repair shop business for a second income. Once you leave the mainland and cross that bridge your in a different world. They can have it. Nice place to visit.......

[countrygalwrite]

Cay Clubs is working on providing workforce housing in Marathon Key, I believe. They are buying an old nursing home and converting it.

[WhoRunIt1475]

i love the keys but no way in hell i could afford it... especially living off a leos pay..

[eh19512]

Yeah, just called down to KWPD and the recruiter is great(In other words, honest). He said you need a wife working a good job, work all the OT and have a second job. Then maybe you can afford to room with another couple(Kinky, huh?) near town. That's why so many people come and go. It's a young man's place with no obligations. For a family, don't even try for the sake of your family.
One thing that is interesting having been an avid RV'er for years is that if you bought a 38' motorhome and kept it year round in a park, with all the slide outs for that extra room, you'd have about as much room as you would in one of those 1 bedroom apartments(actually, more and more efficient) that you'd pay $2,000 for. The cost of your monthly payments would be about $800-$1000, all your paying is for car insurance(albeit, RV), and you can still claim it as a home on your taxes since it has a shower, commode and kitchen.
I'd do it...can't convinve the wife to though. But hell, you'd be able to pick up and move whenever a hurricane comes. Try doing that with a $2,000 a month 50 year old apartment.

[jfern022]

I just started the academy two months ago, sponsored by KWPD. What eh19512 said is almost right on the money. It's a great place to live for someone young with not too many obligations. There are some in my class who are married and they manage, but I know things are tight for them. Once some OT starts coming in, you can live comfortable. KWPD and MCSO are both great agencies, very progressive and care about their officers.

[orlandofed5-0]

Up until 2-3 years ago, single DoD cops assigned NASKW were put up in base housing with a stipend taken out of their check. New CO came in and stopped it. They have the worse pay in the keys and taking them out of base housing killed any sort of recruitment they had.

[Bearcat357]

Up until 2-3 years ago, single DoD cops assigned NASKW were put up in base housing with a stipend taken out of their check. New CO came in and stopped it. They have the worse pay in the keys and taking them out of base housing killed any sort of recruitment they had.

I know someone from another board that left there after that happened.....he scooted out of there pretty quickly after that happened.

Do they still have a PD there or do they contract that out to the locals...? I heard they were talking about that at one time......

[So Fla Cop]

Seriously, key west is awesome id love to work there, but i hear you, theres no way to live there and a commute like that would drive me crazy.

It is great until you realize you are living on a rock 150 miles from civilization.

[orlandofed5-0]

Last I saw on USAJOBS NASKW had some openings. KWPD and MCSO still handle all domestics and alot of other calls on the base.

[Bearcat357]

Last I saw on USAJOBS NASKW had some openings. KWPD and MCSO still handle all domestics and alot of other calls on the base.

That sucks......as that has the potential to be a fun place to work......