On Friday, September 12, 2014 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 Doug Baker. “We appreciate their heroics and the hard work that these men and women put in each day.”
Officer Chris Scavo was the Officer of the Month for August 2014. Officer Scavo was honored for keen observation and investigative skills that were used to arrest three men who possessed a firearm.
On August 29, 2014 Officer Christopher Scavo was on routine patrol in the area of Henderson Avenue and Thomas Street when he was flagged down by a concerned citizen in reference to three subjects walking in the area armed with handguns. Officer Scavo located the three males walking and drove by them very slowly.
After passing the males, Officer Scavo observed one of the males retrieve a gun from his waistband and pass it to another that was walking in the group. Officer Scavo then radioed for assistance from other officers in the area, and immediately turned around and made contact with the subjects, drawing his weapon, and ordering them to the ground. Two of the three males complied and the third fled on foot.
Officer Scavo recognized the male fleeing on foot and he also observed the subject carrying a chrome in color handgun as he fled. Officer Scavo ordered the two men to the ground and remained with them. Once both subjects were detained, a search was conducted and another firearm was discovered in the pants of one of the detainees. Both subjects were taken to the police station for further investigation. A K9 search was conducted for the subject that fled but he nor the gun were located.
Since Officer Scavo knew the identity of the third subject who fled an open booking sheet was prepared for his arrest. The third subject was located later that same evening and taken into custody. Officer Scavo has demonstrated excellent policing and investigative skills while successfully removing three dangerous individuals from the streets as well as a firearm.
Bravo Shift Sergeant Ramy Moussa was the Rib City Officer of the Month for August 2014. Sergeant Moussa is being honored for his investigative ability and perseverance during a robbery investigation.
On Saturday, August 23, 2014, at approximately 5:57 p.m., officers with the Fort Myers Police Department responded to a robbery at the Cricket Wireless store located at 4398 Palm Beach Boulevard. Two female employees were inside the store during the robbery and provided a description of the perpetrator. The suspect entered the business armed with a handgun and demanded money. Officers were able to review the video from a nearby business and capture an image of the suspect as well as partial description of the tag and vehicle.
Sergeant Ramy Moussa began researching the internet to identify the year, make, and model of the vehicle. He then used this information along with the partial tag and searched a database for matching vehicles – creating a lists of vehicles similar to the one used during the crime. After several hours of research, Sergeant Moussa generated a list of potential suspect vehicles, and at approximately 4:00 a.m., he located the vehicle at 742 Pondella Road.
Officers and Deputies of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the vehicles owner who advised she lent her vehicle to her neighbor and neighbor’s boyfriend. Officers and deputies proceeded to the suspect’s apartment. Upon sight of law enforcement, the residents retreated to a rear bedroom and refused to make contact with the officers.
With the assistance of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect surrendered peacefully to police and was placed under arrest. The suspect was transported to the Fort Myers Police Department where he provided a full confession to the robbery at the Cricket Wireless store. The suspect was also charged by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for an additional robbery in their jurisdiction.
As a direct result of Sergeant Moussa’s diligent efforts and willingness to go above and beyond, he not only assisted in the capture of the perpetrator who committed the robbery, but used the resources available through his experience as a Fort Myers Police Officer to locate and remove this criminal from the community.
Officer Gilberto Benitez has been named the East Fort Myers Rotary Officer of the Month for August 2014. Officer Benitez was selected for his courageous efforts to assist a wheelchair bound man that was stranded during a violent thunderstorm.
On Thursday, August 14, 2014, at 8:28 p.m., the Fort Myers Police Department received a call requesting a police officer respond to New York Avenue and Bent Creek Loop to assist a male in a wheelchair that was stuck in the middle of the roadway during a heavy lighting and rain storm.
Officer Benitez was the first to arrive on scene, and observed the male in a motorized wheelchair stuck on the curb holding an umbrella, which was also broken and not preventing the male from being completely soaked. Without any hesitation, Officer Benitez exited his patrol vehicle in the pouring rain and lightning to make contact with the male. While Officer Benitez was speaking with the male, a bolt of lightning struck down very close to where they were talking as seen on the in-car video system in Officer Benitez’s patrol vehicle.
The stranded male informed Officer Benitez that his wheelchair was motorized and had shorted out due to all the rain. Even though it was pouring rain and lightning all around him, Officer Benitez put the wheelchair (constructed mostly of metal) in manual mode and pushed the male one city block to his home. Officer Benitez helped the citizen into his residence, made contact with a family member, found him dry clothing and stayed with him until the family member arrived at the residence due to the wheelchair being inoperable.
Without any hesitation and in disregard for his own safety, Officer Benitez rescued a man from a potentially deadly situation. Officer Benitez’s compassion after he pushed the stranded man to safety is equally as important. Officer Benitez is commended for his heroic and selfless actions.
Please join me in congratulating all our award recipients!
Lieutenant Victor Medico
Public Information Officer
Fort Myers Police Department
2210 Widman Way
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
(239) 321-7748