April 12, 2013
On Friday, April 12, 2013 the Fort Myers Police Department honored several employees at a monthly award ceremony. FMPD strives every day to not only protect and serve the residents of the City of Fort Myers, but to make it a better place to live. “It is our policy to recognize employees of exemplary performance of their duties” said Chief Baker. “We appreciate their heroics and the hard work that these men and women put in each day.”
Sergeant Glenn Thompson, Officer Tim McCormick, Officer Sean Fitzpatrick, Officer David Gaide, Officer Alejandro Urra, Officer Robert Vega, Officer Ben Johnson, Officer Ralph Louissaint and Officer Nicholas Ursitti were nominated for their teamwork and distinguished bravery while performing an outstanding act in the line of duty with imminent personal danger. Recently Officers McCormick, Fitzpatrick, Gaide, Urra, and Vega were preparing for a crowd management assignment at an after-hours establishment due to the large volume of patrons that gather and loiter at the business. During the planning stage of the assignment, several gunshots were fired hitting the building next to where the officers were standing. The officers immediately took cover, communicated the incident to the responding officers and obtained additional armament. As Sgt. Thompson arrived on scene a witness informed him of a possible suspect in the parking lot and provided a detailed description. Sergeant Thompson then located the suspect in the crowd. He disseminated the information to the five original officers and to arriving officers Johnson, Louissaint and Ursitti. The Officers tactically approached the suspect as he got into a vehicle and took him into custody without incident as well as several other occupants in the vehicle. A handgun was located on the floorboard near the suspect’s feet. Four spent casings were located near the vehicle in the parking lot. The suspect was arrested and charged with five counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Detective Nichole Greene was honored for the arrests of two burglary suspects. Recently Detective Greene investigated a residential burglary where approximately $30,000 to $40,000 dollars worth of jewelry was stolen from the home. The scene was photographed and processed. Detective Greene later entered the missing jewelry into a database that catalogues items sold at pawnshops. Detective Greene searched by the top 100 frequent pawners in an attempt to locate the items stolen from the burglary. Detective Greene received a “hit” that a male suspect had pawned several pieces of jewelry at three separate shops in the City. Detective Green obtained photographs of the items pawned and met with the victim who positively identified them as hers. Detective Greene was able to locate additional items pawned by the suspect at various locations, and she also identified an accomplice. Based on the investigation and the evidence obtained both suspects were located and arrested. In addition, the jewelry was returned to the victim.
K-9 Officer Ezra Padgham was nominated for his outstanding observation skills that led to the arrest of a suspect for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officer Padgham was on patrol in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Hanson Street. Officer Padgham heard a disturbance occurring and observed two men yelling at each other. Officer Padgham then heard the distinct sound of a semi-automatic handgun being placed into battery preparation of firing and observed one of them holding a silver handgun. While Officer Padgham was attempting to negotiate through traffic the suspect with the gun fled the scene in a vehicle. Officer Padgham was able to locate the vehicle and conduct a felony traffic stop with the assistance of several other officers. A .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun was located in the vehicle. The victim was located and he wished to pursue charges.
Shelly Flynn
Public Information Officer