Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg administered the Oath of Office to Lt. Joe Stockton in the Commission Chambers of City Hall on Thursday. Lt. Stockton was promoted from the rank of Sergeant.
Lt. Stockton began his law enforcement career in August of 2009. As a department member, he has served in several roles, including Road Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, DUI Enforcement Officer, Motorcycle Officer, Motor Unit Coordinator, and FDLE Instructor.
In 2018, he was promoted to Sergeant in charge of Alpha Night Shift. A short time later, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as the Detective Sergeant of the Special Investigations Unit. There he worked closely with several local and federal partner agencies as a Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer while also overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Special Investigations Unit.
In 2021, he was transferred to the Administration Bureau as the Commander of the Professional Standards Division. While there, the department received its first Excelsior Status from the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Stockton continues to serve with dedication and commitment, receiving numerous accolades and awards, including the Life Saving Awards, Chief's Commendations, Officer of the Half, and Officer of the Year in 2017. He is also actively involved in the community, serving as the current Police Athletic League Treasurer and Vice-President, a past member of the Love Fund Board, and volunteers his time to various other civic groups.
Stockton furthered his professional development while working for the department, graduating with honors from Barry University with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management. He recently graduated from the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy courses and will attend Southern Police Institute's Command Officers Development Course next year.