MARATHON, Fla. – A Florida Keys sheriff’s deputy was arrested by her employer on more than a dozen computer crimes charges Wednesday, officials said.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jennifer Ann Ketcham, 40, faces 19 felony counts of of misuse of law enforcement computers, computer networks and electronic devices, MCSO spokesperson Adam Linhardt said in a brief news release Wednesday afternoon.

“Ketcham used law enforcement databases to look up information for personal reasons beyond the legal scope of her employment as a Deputy,” Linhardt said.

Authorities didn’t elaborate on the specific nature of the allegations; Local 10 News has requested a copy of her arrest documents.

Linhardt said Ketcham, hired on June 2, 2021, was placed on administrative leave without pay pending an internal investigation; her bond was set at $1.9 million.

“I am committed to keeping this community informed of significant events that occur in this agency — good and bad,” Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in Wednesday’s news release.

Jail records show Ketcham, of Cudjoe Key, was taken into custody at MCSO’s Marathon substation at 3103 Overseas Highway and jailed just before 3:45 p.m.

She had not been assigned a jail facility as of Wednesday afternoon.

TALLAHASSEE – Pointing to issues such as traffic safety, the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association have announced opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the use of recreational marijuana.

The sheriffs association said its members approved a resolution opposing the initiative during a meeting last week.

“The well-being and health of the citizens of Florida are threatened through the legalization and normalization of recreational marijuana,” Sheriffs Association President Bill Prummell, the Charlotte County sheriff, said in a prepared statement. “Our priority is the safety and security of our communities, and the data clearly shows that legalization leads to increased public health issues, road safety concerns, and a rise in youth marijuana use. We must take a stand to protect our citizens, especially our youth, from the negative impacts of marijuana.” 

Similarly, Florida Police Chiefs Association President Charles Vazquez, chief of the Tampa International Airport Police Department, issued a statement that said based on “the experience of other states, we know that law enforcement resources, as well as public health and other governmental services, will be taxed with new call volume due to the nature of marijuana impairment and its relationship to criminality, including victimization, and mental health.” 

But Smart & Safe Florida, a political committee leading efforts to pass the proposed constitutional amendment, disputes arguments that allowing the recreational use of marijuana would lead to increased crime and issues such as traffic safety problems.

“While marijuana can impair driving abilities, the claim that legalization leads to significantly more impaired driving fatalities is not supported by evidence,” information on the Smart & Safe Florida committee website says. “Proper education, enforcement of impaired driving laws, and investment in public safety measures can mitigate any potential increase in marijuana-related traffic accidents.” 

The initiative, which will appear on the November ballot as Amendment 3, says, in part, that it would allow “adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.” 

Voters in 2016 passed a constitutional amendment that allowed medical marijuana.

Central Florida has a major perk with all the theme parks and attractions surrounding us. There are a few things you might not know, and that’s because there are many tips, tricks, and secrets to these parks and special events. Michele Atwood with The Main Street Mouse has details on the Flavors of Florida festival at Disney Springs.