Driver charged with DUI after crashing SUV into restaurant in Gulf Coast Town CenterGreat Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier County
ESTERO Driver charged with DUI after crashing SUV into restaurant in Gulf Coast Town Center The driver of an SUV that crashed into a restaurant at the Gulf Coast Town Center in Estero has been charged with DUI.
Tesla issues sixth Cybertruck recall in a year, over 2,400 vehicles affected Tesla stock might be up, but their Cybertrucks have another recall for their drivers to deal with.
Great Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier County With pomp, circumstance and an appearance from retired NFL player Rob Gronkowski, Great Wolf Lodge celebrated both its grand opening and its economic impact for Collier County.
CAPE CORAL Orientation for new Cape Coral City Council members Five fresh new faces are on the Cape Coral City Council.
the weather authority Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean.
Local builder Paul Beattie gives up license, agrees to pay fine Beattie Development has been accused of taking customers’ money and not completing work promised, and now the company’s owner is surrendering his license.
NAPLES Naples Botanical Garden performs prescribed burn in garden area The Naples Botanical Garden is conducting a prescribed fire as part of its maintenance of the nature preserve.
NEAR FORT MYERS Jerry Seinfeld to perform at Barbara B. Mann in SWFL Comedian and co-creator of a popular sitcom of the same name, Jerry Seinfeld, is set to perform near Fort Myers.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier cautions of blue-green algae at Lake Avalon The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) wants to caution the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Avalon.
City, Naples Beach Club to preserve green space in perpetuity More than 104 acres of recreation and open space at the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s golf course will be forever preserved.
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a rollover, single-vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
ESTERO Driver charged with DUI after crashing SUV into restaurant in Gulf Coast Town Center The driver of an SUV that crashed into a restaurant at the Gulf Coast Town Center in Estero has been charged with DUI.
Tesla issues sixth Cybertruck recall in a year, over 2,400 vehicles affected Tesla stock might be up, but their Cybertrucks have another recall for their drivers to deal with.
Great Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier County With pomp, circumstance and an appearance from retired NFL player Rob Gronkowski, Great Wolf Lodge celebrated both its grand opening and its economic impact for Collier County.
CAPE CORAL Orientation for new Cape Coral City Council members Five fresh new faces are on the Cape Coral City Council.
the weather authority Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean.
Local builder Paul Beattie gives up license, agrees to pay fine Beattie Development has been accused of taking customers’ money and not completing work promised, and now the company’s owner is surrendering his license.
NAPLES Naples Botanical Garden performs prescribed burn in garden area The Naples Botanical Garden is conducting a prescribed fire as part of its maintenance of the nature preserve.
NEAR FORT MYERS Jerry Seinfeld to perform at Barbara B. Mann in SWFL Comedian and co-creator of a popular sitcom of the same name, Jerry Seinfeld, is set to perform near Fort Myers.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier cautions of blue-green algae at Lake Avalon The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) wants to caution the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Avalon.
City, Naples Beach Club to preserve green space in perpetuity More than 104 acres of recreation and open space at the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s golf course will be forever preserved.
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a rollover, single-vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
Credit: WINK News We hear from the local sheriffs and police chiefs every day, but we don’t hear a lot from the police department at Florida Gulf Coast University – and that’s OK with its chief. WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Kolko spent some time on campus with Chief Steven Moore to find out what the police department does on campus each day. From running traffic to doing investigations, even acting as a mentor or advisor to a very diverse group of students, Moore does it all with a department of just 21 officers. The agency has 750 acres and more than 15,000 students to police. From concerned parents to operating during a pandemic, there’s nothing “small town” about Moore’s police force. “When a father and mother call about their son having a mental breakdown and he’s dangerous, they’re not calling for you to come kill him,” Moore said. He said COVID-19 has been “challenging,” which is something Moore knows all about. He has been a police officer for 37 years, moving to FGCU in 2006 after serving as chief for the Naples Police Department. At a recent shooting on Alico Road, FGCU police officers backed up Lee County sheriff’s deputies, but mostly, they serve on campus. “We’ll help the students change tires, jump their car, do whatever to help them out, so again it’s just more service-oriented at a university,” Moore said. That includes encouraging his officers to have positive contacts. “If there is a soccer game going on or if there is an event on the library lawn, just go be seen.” That’s to build up trust, and one of his goals is to see every officer trained in de-escalation techniques, something they’ve practiced at a few recent small interactions on campus. “We’ve had a couple of times where officers have been yelled at this semester for absolutely no reason, driving by a group of people and say have a good evening and the tirade starts, so, the officers know, keep on moving.” While Moore believes there may be a better way to respond to mental health crises, he feels defunding the police isn’t the answer. “Who should be responding to that mental health crisis? I don’t think a lot of police would complain if they weren’t the ones that responded to it.” His team is out there 24/7. “A campus is a great setting; it’s just a fun place to be,” he said. The department’s jurisdiction is 1,000 feet beyond campus, but they can assist outside that area, if needed. Moore said the biggest difference is that they have their own internal discipline system. Underage alcohol possession, marijuana possession and other similar incidents are handled on campus, keeping students out of the courts in most cases. RELATED LINKS International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IECLEA) International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) University/College Police Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) FGCU Police Dept.