Longboat Key's new police chief has plenty 'left in the tank'

Well, that retirement isn't going to last long.

Russ Mager and his wife, Beth, were all set to enjoy the early retirement with plans for settling in the Sarasota area.

Then Longboat Key called, and well, Russ is back in blue.

"Timing is everything," Mager said.

On June 19, Longboat Key announced Mager will be the new chief of police starting in August. Mager "retired" at the beginning of June as chief of the Delray Beach police department, where he served for 29 years, starting on the road as an officer in 1996.

Image courtesy of city of Delray Beach

“The town is very excited to have selected Mr. Russ Mager as our next chief of police," Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said. "He will be bringing a lot of experience to the town from his leadership roles within the City of Delray Beach. The Town received a lot of interested and well-qualified applicants for this position, and it was not an easy decision."

The Magers were planning on moving to the area since Beth's family is from Sarasota. So they were coming here anyway, so why not put in for Longboat Key position he thought?

"It was mutually exclusive," he said. "My wife was ready to move and I was coming to end of my contract, so why not? And if I got it 'Great' and if I didn't well, that was OK."

Beth had just retired from law enforcement herself, where she served as a sergeant with the Coral Gables police department.

Now, for those unfamiliar with the distance the two worked from each other, it's 56 miles. And in South Florida traffic, that can be as much as two hours away.

Mager said they lived in Broward County and each of them drove an hour in opposite directions.

That may be an indication of why he's coming to Longboat.

"Longboat is that little slice of paradise," he said. "But I really wasn't ready to give up. I have plenty left in the tank."

Mager has extensive experience in areas including strategic planning, labor relations, budget management, and community policing.

As Delray Beach's police chief, a position beginning in 2022, Mager led an increase in sworn personnel from 166 to 174, expanded a unit targeting city-wide crime, expanded the motor unit to handle traffic issues and added a second Marine Patrol boat.

Prior to becoming Delray's chief, Mager served as Assistant Chief of Police of Field Operations from 2020 to 2022. He began as a road patrol officer in 1996 and has served as a SWAT team member, detective, sergeant and lieutenant.

The Town Commission will introduce Mager at the June 27 meeting, and he will formally begin on Aug. 4.

"I want to be effective in the community," Mager said. "And I want to teach and mentor young officers."

Mager will hold a $160,000 salary with a six-month probation period before being eligible for a 3% increase.

Mager will take over after interim chief Frank Rubino has served since the beginning of 2025 while the town conducted the search.

"The town as a whole, and me personally, also want to acknowledge and give our utmost gratitude to Mr. Frank Rubino, our interim chief of police, for doing an excellent job in guiding the police department during this time of transition and moving the department forward." Brownman said. "His contributions to the department and the town continue to be greatly appreciated.”

Rubino filled in for George Turner, who left the department on Jan. 11. Turner had been the chief of police on his second stint with the town beginning in 2021. Prior to that, Turner rose to the rank of captain in Longboat Key before leaving to serve as chief of police in Brooksville in 2007.