Savannah Bananas at JetBlue Park this weekendPunta Gorda Historic District home set for demolition, rebuild
FORT MYERS Savannah Bananas at JetBlue Park this weekend Are you heading out to watch the Savannah Bananas this weekend? This is what you need to know.
Punta Gorda Historic District home set for demolition, rebuild When builder T.J. Thornberry was hired by clients to demolish and build two new homes on their Chasteen Street properties within the Punta Gorda Historic District, little did he realize he would be embarking on an odyssey laden with roadblocks lasting nearly three months.
PORT CHARLOTTE Rays begin Spring Training ahead of season away from home The Charlotte Sports Park is home to the Tampa Bay Rays for the next six weeks for, but after that they don’t actually get to go home.
Eligible taxpayers in Florida file for free with IRS Direct File The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers in Florida they can file their taxes for free with the agency using IRS Direct File.
Tallahassee Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference at the state capitol building.
Registration for Lee County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp to open Lee County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp has announced that registration will open to the public in two weeks.
Collier Sheriff speaks on high-tech tools stopping criminals before they act According to Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Southwest Florida is seen as an easy target for criminals; however, law enforcement has begun to incorporate cutting-edge technology to prevent future crimes from happening.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to host two German Culture Biergarten The German American Social Club of Cape Coral will host the first of two Biergarten in the Bavarian Garden to celebrate its German heritage.
Execution of Charlotte County killer James Ford set for tonight A convicted killer on death row since 1999 is scheduled to be executed tonight for the murder of a couple in Charlotte County.
NORTH PORT Citywide burn ban in effect for North Port The North Port Fire Rescue has enacted a citywide outdoor burn ban due to extreme drought conditions and an increased wildfire threat.
cape coral Minor hospitalized with gunshot wound; 2 people in custody The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
FORT MYERS Savannah Bananas at JetBlue Park this weekend Are you heading out to watch the Savannah Bananas this weekend? This is what you need to know.
Punta Gorda Historic District home set for demolition, rebuild When builder T.J. Thornberry was hired by clients to demolish and build two new homes on their Chasteen Street properties within the Punta Gorda Historic District, little did he realize he would be embarking on an odyssey laden with roadblocks lasting nearly three months.
PORT CHARLOTTE Rays begin Spring Training ahead of season away from home The Charlotte Sports Park is home to the Tampa Bay Rays for the next six weeks for, but after that they don’t actually get to go home.
Eligible taxpayers in Florida file for free with IRS Direct File The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers in Florida they can file their taxes for free with the agency using IRS Direct File.
Tallahassee Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference at the state capitol building.
Registration for Lee County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp to open Lee County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp has announced that registration will open to the public in two weeks.
Collier Sheriff speaks on high-tech tools stopping criminals before they act According to Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Southwest Florida is seen as an easy target for criminals; however, law enforcement has begun to incorporate cutting-edge technology to prevent future crimes from happening.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to host two German Culture Biergarten The German American Social Club of Cape Coral will host the first of two Biergarten in the Bavarian Garden to celebrate its German heritage.
Execution of Charlotte County killer James Ford set for tonight A convicted killer on death row since 1999 is scheduled to be executed tonight for the murder of a couple in Charlotte County.
NORTH PORT Citywide burn ban in effect for North Port The North Port Fire Rescue has enacted a citywide outdoor burn ban due to extreme drought conditions and an increased wildfire threat.
cape coral Minor hospitalized with gunshot wound; 2 people in custody The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Davis talks with WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Kolko. (WINK News) A new Gallup poll out Thursday shows confidence in police has hit a new low. Only 48% of Americans say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence. That’s down from 53% in the last year. Is that true locally? Chief Pam Davis is one of just two women who run a local law enforcement agency, and she is quick to say what we’re seeing nationally is not what she’s experiencing in Punta Gorda. Make no mistake, being a cop is never easy. Davis has seen and overcome sexism to get where she is and says her struggles were well worth it. She’s a police chief who credits a dog for directing her life of law enforcement. “I saw a canine demonstration by one of our local agencies back in Maryland and as soon as I saw this I said, ‘You know, this I want to become: a canine handler,'” Davis said. She did become a canine handler and then steadily moved up the ranks. When she went to the police academy, she was one of just four women. “Toward the end of the class, we were almost getting ready to graduate and they ended up having to terminate the class due to budget cuts,” she said. When the budget crisis got resolved, Davis got a taste of discrimination. “The other three ladies were not hired back and it was based on their sexual orientation,” she explained. “When you were a rookie, were you treated with the respect of your peers, do you feel,” we asked. “As a young female officer, you almost have to prove yourself, so back then it was really a lot of the male officers, didn’t even really want you responding to their calls and then once you’ve proved that you could make that arrest on your own, that’s when you started to be accepted,” she said. Davis believes it’s still tough for any officer to earn acceptance among the ranks and that can be true in her current role. “People always say, ‘How do you feel about being the first female chief?’ I don’t want to be judged on my gender and I’ve always been that way and I think i just go out and do my job,” she said. She says the people of Punta Gorda make her job much easier. “We hear our community. We’re doing everything we can to make sure we have that great relationship with our community. We actually appreciate everybody that has been showing their support in us,” Davis said. Davis said she gets why there are people here and across the nation who question the motives of police. All she wants for herself and for her officers is to be judged not by their race or sex, but by the job they do. On Friday, she will tell us how she hopes to get more women into policing and what her first reaction was to the killing of George Floyd. RESOURCES National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) Florida Police Chiefs Association Punta Gorda Police Department