Key West detective certified to teach FBI resiliency course

Key West Police Detective Sgt. Jesse Hammers returned from Pensacola certified to teach an FBI National Academy Associates resiliency course, a credential the city says could reach far beyond one officer inside a small Monroe County department.

The City of Key West posted the recognition on May 22, 2026, saying the course addresses physical, spiritual, social and mental health for first responders. The city said it helps officers recognize stressors from the first responder role, manage their own wellbeing and support one another when life challenges them to the core.

That makes the training more than a ceremonial badge of honor for the Key West Police Department. In a department that serves the southernmost police force in the continental United States, a certified instructor can shape how officers think about burnout, trauma exposure and long-term performance, turning resiliency into a practical tool rather than a wellness slogan. The city framed Hammers’ new status as an investment in workforce development that can strengthen morale and decision-making inside KWPD.

Hammers already has deep roots in the department and in the island community it serves. The city recognized him in August 2024 for 10 years of service, saying he joined KWPD in 2014 and was promoted to sergeant in 2019. City posts have also said he was born and raised in Key West, is the son of a retired Key West police officer and a current member of the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit, and works with his K9 partner Mango.

His role reaches beyond patrol work. The city has said Hammers serves as program coordinator for the Key West Police Athletic League, sits on the PAL executive board and founded Mango Fest, which benefits PAL. A 2021 city post said he had served as a patrol officer, a detective with the Special Investigations Unit and a K9 handler, adding to a résumé that ties police work to youth outreach and neighborhood visibility.

The FBI National Academy Associates says its officer resiliency mission is to save the lives, families and careers of police officers around the globe. The association says a select group began Master Resiliency Trainer certification training in San Antonio in May 2017, and its curriculum materials outline a Comprehensive Officer Resilience Program built around resilience domains and specific skills. For Key West, Hammers’ certification signals that the department is bringing that national wellness effort home, one instructor at a time.