BREAKING: Key West Police Sergeant Placed on Paid Leave Amid Criminal Case, Internal Affairs Probe

Administrative action follows grand jury indictment tied to alleged on-duty drug solicitation

A Key West police sergeant who was recently indicted by a Monroe County grand jury has been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to records obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold.

Sgt. David Kouri was relieved of duty effective April 20 pending further review of allegations that “warrant further examination through an internal investigation,” Police Chief Sean T. Brandenburg wrote in a memo to the officer.

The memo went on to inform Kouri that the decision was made by City Manager Brian Barroso.

The action is administrative and “not a disciplinary action” or a determination of wrongdoing, the memo states. Kouri is required to comply with all directives tied to his leave status, including availability for questioning and restrictions during the investigation.

The move comes after an April 8 grand jury indictment charging Kouri with one count of solicitation to deliver or sell marijuana, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

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Although a previous internal affairs investigation cleared Kouri of illegal conduct, a Monroe County grand jury ultimately reached a different conclusion.

Internal records show Kouri received a written reprimand with no suspension based on a finding of conduct unbecoming of a KWPD officer, but that the event did not reach the level of being a court matter.

A Jan. 26, 2026, disciplinary letter from Lt. Jeffrey Dean stated Kouri “attempted to facilitate the exchange of marijuana through two civilians,” noting that marijuana remains a regulated substance under state law and that the conduct reflected poor judgment.

Supervisory records indicate Brandenburg, who initiated the internal complaint, noted the outcome did not fully resolve his concerns.

The criminal case was presented in open court before the 16th Judicial Circuit in Monroe County which returned the indictment.

Kouri was not taken into custody and was issued a notice to appear. His attorney has entered a plea of not guilty. Arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow, Fri., April 24, before Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson.

In his April 20 memo, Brandenburg said any internal investigative interviews will be conducted in accordance with the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights under Florida law, which governs procedures for questioning officers.

“You are expected to cooperate fully with the internal investigation as required by policy and law,” Brandenburg wrote, adding that no conclusions have been reached.

If the investigation finds violations of department policy or other standards, Kouri would be entitled to a predetermination hearing before any disciplinary action is imposed.

A spokesperson for the department has previously said the agency does not comment on ongoing investigations or litigation — although an administrative suspension is considered a Human Resources matter.

Above the Fold has requested additional records from KWPD and will update this report as more information becomes available.

All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of their peers.

This is an evolving story. Watch this space.