History: Key West Crime Scandals

Key West Police

The Evolution of the Key West Police Department: 1828 to Today

Founded in 1828, the Key West Police Department began as a one-man marshal system in a town of just 421 residents. The first jail was a ship’s brig docked in the harbor, and early law enforcement focused more on maritime salvage disputes than criminal cases—only three felony convictions were recorded in the first 50 years.  By 1900, the department had grown to 13 sworn officers. Its first line-of-duty death occurred in 1904. Through the mid-20th century, KWPD remained modest in size, serving a quiet island community with limited violent crime. The 1970s and 1980s brought dramatic change. Tourism surged and Key West received immigrants from all over the word, especially those escaping Communism in Cuba. South Florida also became a drug cartel base of operations during this time, and Key West experienced scandals involving top leaders in the KWPD.

Police Dept at Old City Hall, Greene Street, 1950's (Source: Florida Keys Library)

The 1985 Bubba Bust: A Key West Police Scandal

In the year 1985, the "Bubba Bust" dramatically exposed a deeply embedded drug trafficking and racketeering operation that had been operating surreptitiously within the Key West Police Department. As a direct result of this extensive investigation, a total of twelve individuals, including the deputy police chief and several key detectives who were at the heart of the department, were ultimately convicted in federal court.

Key West Motorcycle Police Officer Frank Caroballo, ca. 1960. (Source: Don Pinder.

According to the comprehensive statements provided by federal authorities, these implicated individuals brazenly exploited their positions of trust and power within the department to facilitate a wide range of illicit activities. Specifically, they were found to be actively involved in the following criminal behaviors: facilitating extensive drug transactions involving significant quantities of marijuana and cocaine; accepting bribes and issuing veiled threats to systematically conceal ongoing criminal activities; and, operating a persistent and far-reaching criminal enterprise that functioned covertly within the very structure of the police department itself.

The sheer gravity and the potentially damaging ramifications of this scandal were so severe that federal authorities took extraordinary measures to maintain absolute confidentiality throughout the entire course of the investigation. They were deeply concerned about any potential leaks of information to local officials, which could have compromised the entire operation and allowed key players to escape accountability. Consequently, the arrests were executed with complete secrecy and without any prior notification to the city leadership, ensuring that the investigation could proceed without interference.

Joseph Bum Farto

Significantly, the "Bubba Bust" did not occur in isolation but rather followed a series of earlier incidents that painted a concerning picture of pervasive corruption within Key West. One particularly notorious example was the 1976 disappearance of Fire Chief Joseph "Bum" Farto, who mysteriously vanished while he was awaiting sentencing on serious drug-related charges. When viewed together, these incidents—the "Bubba Bust" and the Farto disappearance—collectively presented a troubling and alarming portrayal of the state of law enforcement in Key West during the turbulent and transformative decades of the 1970s and 1980s.

​Operation Conch: A Federal Sting That Shook Key West

In 1975, federal authorities launched Operation Conch, a covert investigation targeting corruption within Key West’s municipal government. The operation culminated in the arrest and conviction of several city officials, most notably Fire Chief Joseph “Bum” Farto, who was charged with drug trafficking and conspiracy. He was accused of distributing cocaine and marijuana from within the Key West Fire Department, using city facilities to facilitate narcotics transactions. The sting was orchestrated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and relied on undercover agents and wiretaps to build its case. Farto’s arrest sent shockwaves through the community, not only because of his prominent public role but also due to the brazenness of the alleged crimes. His trial ended in conviction, but before sentencing could be carried out, He vanished under mysterious circumstances. Despite extensive searches and speculation, he was never found and was declared legally dead in 1986. Operation Conch exposed a troubling nexus between public office and organized crime in Key West. The case drew national attention and fueled conspiracy theories involving Cuban exile networks, anti-Castro operatives, and possible ties to the Tampa Mafia. The disappearance of Bum Farto became a local legend, spawning bumper stickers, T-shirts, and enduring folklore that blurred the line between fact and myth. The legacy of Operation Conch endures as a cautionary tale about institutional vulnerability and the challenges of maintaining public trust in small, insular communities. It also marked a turning point in federal oversight of Key West’s civic institutions, laying the groundwork for future investigations such as the 1985 Bubba Bust.

The Key West Police Department (KWPD) has evolved to meet increasing requirements. Currently, it is headed by Chief Sean T. Brandenburg. The department patrols an island that sees millions of visitors each year, managing local concerns with the intricacies of tourism, nightlife, and port security. From overseeing shipwreck legal proceedings to patrolling for cruise ships, the KWPD's history reflects the island's transformation, constantly influenced by its location, its inhabitants, and its position as a crossroads of cultures.