March 14, 2014
On Friday, March 14, 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 Edward Quinn and Officer Brandon Birch are the Officers of the Month for February 2014. Officer Quinn and Officer Birch are being honored for reaching out to youth in the community and building a good relationship.
On February 12, 2014 Officer Quinn and Officer Birch were on uniform marked patrol in the area of Royal Palm Avenue when they passed a residence where three young juvenile males between 10 to 15 years old were playing basketball on the street. As the officers passed by with the windows down, Officer Quinn yelled out to the youth with the basketball and yelled, “Shoot it.” That is when the eldest juvenile advised the officers to get out of their vehicle and play a game with them.
Officer Quinn pulled away, but quickly advised Officer Birch he was going to circle the block and head back to play ball with the children. When the officers got out of the vehicle, the juveniles were thrilled and could not believe the officers were going to play some “street ball” with them.
Officer Quinn picked the two youngest boys and teamed Officer Birch up with the oldest for a game of three on two. The children could not believe they were playing basketball with the police officers. The mother of the children quickly exited the residence and came outside to see what all the commotion was about. The mother started laughing and began recording the game with her cell phone. After about ten minutes, Officer Quinn advised the children they had to get back to work. The children did not want the game to end. The officers shook hands with the children and quickly returned back to duty.
Officer Quinn and Officer Birch are commended for reaching out to the youth in our community and showing a different type of authoritative figure for the three young juveniles living in a high crime area. Surely, these officers touched their lives that day and impacted each of them in a positive manner.
Officer Scott Newbury is the Rib City Officer of the Month for February 2014. Officer Newbury is being honored for his diligence in identifying and coordinating an investigation which led to the removal of guns, drugs and dangerous criminals from the streets for Fort Myers.
On Thursday, February 6, 2014, Officer Newbury received information that a female with an active warrant was residing at 2717 Colonial Boulevard, Super 8 Motel. Officer Newbury conducted a local warrants inquiry and found that the female in question did have an active probation warrant.
Officer Newbury traveled to the Super 8 where he met with a hotel representative. A subsequent investigation led Officer Newbury to locating the wanted female and in addition items left in plain view allowed for the application of a search warrant. A total of two rooms were searched and three subjects were arrested. Officers located the following items during the lawful search:
Jimenez Arms .380 handgun
Titan .25 caliber handgun
5.0 grams of powder cocaine
1.0 grams of crack cocaine
.5 grams of heroin
9 pills of oxycodone
Officer Jari Sanders is the East Fort Myers Rotary Officer of the Month for February 2014. Officer Sanders was selected for his professionalism and dedication to the Fort Myers Police Department and citizens of Fort Myers.
Recently, the Fort Myers Police Foundation was formed and consists of several board members from various locations throughout the city. A few of the foundation members decided to participate with the Police Department’s ride-a-long program.
The members scheduled their ride a long on the evenings that the Delta Shift worked. On three different occasions, Officer Sanders, while on duty, was assigned to take a member of the foundation out on patrol with him. Each member road for approximately six hours from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Once their ride a long was complete, the board members commented on their experience. Each member stated that the ride a long was an eye opening experience, and each commented on how professional our agency is and that they were very impressed with the members of the department, In particular, with Officer Sanders. The board members advised how very pleased they were with Officer Sander’s level of expertise and professionalism. One member stated he was one of the most conscientious and fair person he has met in a long time.
Please join me in congratulating all our award winners!
Lieutenant Victor Medico
Public Information Officer
Fort Myers Police Department
2210 Widman Way
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
(239) 321-7748
vmedico@fmpolice.com
