Administration
Neptune Beach Police Department's Command Staff
Police Chief Michael J. Key Jr.
On August 1st, 2023 Chief Michael J. Key Jr. was selected to serve as the seventh Chief of Police for the Neptune Beach Police Department.
Faith, family, community, integrity, and dedication to service are Chief Michael J. Key Jr’s core values.
Chief Key has 25 years of combined public service experience and has served the citizens of Neptune Beach for over 20 years while working for the Neptune Beach Police Department. Chief Key is a native Floridian, born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. Both his parents spent their careers in public service: his mother a teacher and father an engineer for JEA. He is a resident of Neptune Beach and loves calling this city his home.
Chief Key was fortunate to start his career in public service at a very young age. At sixteen, he became a junior volunteer firefighter with the St. Johns County Fire & Rescue Department. He has always highly valued those early beginnings as they forged important character traits which have never left him. At nineteen, Chief Key changed his career path and dedicated his life to the law enforcement profession. His father had to buy his first service gun and ammunition since he was under the age twenty-one. Starting from humble beginnings as a reserve officer, he worked his way through the ranks by shear dedication, commitment to a life of service, and integrity.
Chief Key started his career with the NBPD as a Police Officer working the night shift. Later, he worked in numerous different positions including the DUI/Traffic Unit, Motor Officer, Field Training Officer, Adjunct Police Academy Instructor, Beaches SWAT Team Member & Leader, and Detective among other roles. He has held the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Commander where he had the privilege and honor to lead every division, unit, and role within the Police Department. In 2017, Chief Key graduated from Class #268 of the FBI National Academy, known as one of the premier law enforcement executive training programs in the world. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in Homeland Security and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia. He has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the citizens of Neptune Beach and has deep love and commitment to the community.
Police Commander Liam A. Toal
Office of Police Operations
Commander Liam Toal has served with the Neptune Beach Police Department since August of 2008, where he started his career in Law Enforcement as an auxiliary officer. In October of 2008, he was hired as a full-time officer and has served the City of Neptune Beach and the Beaches’ community proudly for the last fifteen years. In 2016, he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant where he maintained that role until 2023 when he transferred into the position of Criminal Investigations Division Sergeant. In January of 2024 he was promoted to Commander over both the Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Divisions along with leading the agency in critical roles such as Training, Recruitment, and Internal Affairs. A couple of Commander Toal’s personal career highlights include becoming an agency Field Training Officer, a General Instructor with focus on high-liability topics, and a graduate of the Jacksonville Beach Police Department’s Basic SWAT school. Commander Toal served in an operational capacity for over eleven years with the Beaches SWAT Team, prior to abdicating his role in 2023.
Commander Toal currently oversees the Office of Police Operations, which includes the Patrol Division & Ocean Rescue Division, along with numerous other leadership duties.
Police Commander Gary M. Stucki
Office of Investigations and Support
Commander Stucki is a native of the Beaches community, born at the former Beaches Hospital and raised in Atlantic Beach. His interest in public service was cultivated during his upbringing, observing his father’s tenure as the Atlantic Beach Police Chief. Commander Stucki received his education from the Beaches public school system and graduated from Fletcher High School. In 1981, Commander Stucki embarked on his public service career as a lifeguard for the City of Neptune Beach. Following five successful summer seasons, he was sponsored by the Neptune Beach Police Department to attend the police academy. Upon completion of his training, he commenced his law enforcement journey as a patrol officer with the Atlantic Beach Police Department. In 1988, Commander Stucki transitioned to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), where he dedicated 28 years of service. During his tenure with JSO, he spent two decades in the Homicide Unit, contributing to the investigation of 310 homicide cases, over 1200 death investigations, and 161 officer involved shootings. Following his retirement from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2016, Commander Stucki continued his commitment to public safety by joining the Neptune Beach Police Department. He assumed the role of Detective-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations Division, where he brought his wealth of experience and expertise to the assignment.
Commander Stucki currently oversees the Office of Invesitgations and Support, which includes the Criminal Investigations Division & Services Division, along with numerous other leadership duties.