NAU Police Chief Kelli Smith To Take Over The Longboat Key Police Department In Florida

NAU Police may be looking for a new police chief soon. NAU Police Chief Kelli Smith has accepted an offer to become the new police chief for the Longboat Key Police Department in Florida. Longboat Key is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota. She is replacing a police chief who is retiring and goes back to Florida where she retired as a major with the University of Central Florida Police Department. The move won’t be made official until a background check is completed, which Longboat City officials say takes four-to-six weeks. Smith spent three years at NAU and increased the officer staff from 21 to 29 to counter NAU’s increasing enrollment. She also made sure NAUPD was involved in the community, assisting in creating fund raisers and volunteering around the city. Smith beat out over 60 candidates for the new position. NAU is expected to name an interim police chief while a search is conducted.