FMPD

Fort Myers Police were monitoring a black bear in the area of Broadway and Victoria Avenue in the city Monday morning.Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission officers managed to corral and tranquilize the animal to be transplanted elsewhere.

The shooting death of Kristopher Smith as he sat in his car after dropping off his son at school in January 2013 eventually lead to charges against Robert Lee Ward and his sentencing to life in prison.

There are 21 cities in Florida that have police review boards, including Fort Myers and Bradenton, and bills introduced in the Florida legislature would prohibit them. A bill sponsor said the boards are divisive only second-guess police and don't have the experience to do that.

Jason Fields, who has 23 years experience and was the current captain/acting major at the Foert Myers police Department, was approved as chief by a 6-1 vote.

Fort Myers police said the five teens killed when their car crashed into a retention pond Sunday night died from drowning. Three also suffered blunt force trauma. Acting Captain Shawn Yates at a press briefing Friday afternoon said the department’s investigation remains active. He said social media tips and surveillance video of the vehicle have provided additional details.

After 170 applicants applied, the candidates for Fort Myers police chief were narrowed down to four: Reo Hatfield, deputy police chief for the Virginia Beach Police Department; Victor Medico, a Fort Myers Police Department captain; Gina Hawkins, retired Fayetteville police chief; and Jason Fields, acting major for FMPD.

A multi-jurisdictional local law enforcement initiative dubbed “Operation Triple Beam” has netted the arrest of 120 people and the seizure of 45 firearms,…

The latest Uniform Crime Report data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows that overall crime in the City of Fort Myers is on a significant…