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Village Manager Steve Williamson has tentatively selected Frank Sousa, Fort Lauderdale’s interim police chief, to head the Key Biscayne Police Department. Williamson said he hopes to make the appointment official as soon as background checks are completed.
“He’s going to do a great job,” Williamson said Tuesday of Sousa (SOO’-sah), a 22-year veteran of the Fort Lauderdale department. He will fill the spot held by Charles Press for 17 years. Jason Younes has been serving as interim chief since Press retired in July. Younes said he was not a candidate for the top job.
“I’m very excited,” Sousa said. He said he’s already planning meetings with Village Council members and police officers, pending confirmation of his hire. “I am ready to get started,” he added.
Sousa was one of two finalists for the position — the other was former Miami-Dade County Police Director Thomas “Pat” Hanlon.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him,” said Council Member Brett Moss, who was arriving for the final budget hearing Tuesday night.
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Under the Village Charter, the manager makes decisions about hiring the chief and other department heads. Sousa emerged from an initial pool of 28 applicants for the position, which was advertised at a salary range of $150,000 to $180,000.
Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.