ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Police officers are one of the first lines of support at the scene of the disaster. It’s part of their job to help families during life-changing emergencies, but after hundreds of those calls, it’s hard for officers to open up about what they’ve been through. In a WINK News exclusive interview, we spoke to officers heading a Fort Myers Police Department program working to start the conversations about mental health for those on the front lines of tragedy. Some of the events they face that take a toll include shootings, domestic violence disputes, fatal crashes, child abuse, and more. To those involved, it can feel like the worst moment in their life, but to police officers, it’s the type of call they respond to every day. “People and the officer have to remember that there’s a heart behind this badge,” said FMPD Officer Steven Gruber, “it’s not just like this ultimate shield.” So to protect their officers’ hearts and badges, FMPD police created a peer support program. “It’s easier to go to somebody that you know, that you see and laugh and joke with all the time versus somebody that you’ve never met,” Gruber explained. Officer Brittany Johnson is part of that peer support group, and says, “You have to make split-second decisions when you’re in this position in law enforcement so having your mental health in a good standing only helps you make better decisions.” When officers deal with a tough call or issues at home, they can talk with designated officers confidentially. And since they do the same job, they have a greater understanding than most. In 2003, Gruber tragically crashed with a fellow officer. “Unfortunately, I was involved in a fatal crash with Officer Dan Starks.” In 2018, Johnson rushed FMPD Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller to the hospital in her own patrol car when he was shot and killed three years ago. She said, “I didn’t really talk to anyone. I didn’t open up. I didn’t say anything. It really didn’t affect me until later on down the line.” We asked Johnson if, once it did sink in, if she felt comfortable talking to other people. “No. No, I still had that kind of I can’t feel this emotion I shouldn’t feel this you know I’m a police officer I have to keep a straight face I have to be strong for other people,” she explained. Inspector General Donald Oswald didn’t want another officer to feel that way. When a law was passed last year allowing first responders and a support group of their peers to have confidential conversations, he created this program. “I believe there is still a stigma against mental health,” Oswald said. “I think quite frankly those of us in law enforcement tend to perceive ourselves as being strong individuals and shouldn’t be hindered by emotions, but that being said, we all are.” With a confidential support group, Johnson says, “I think that’s the key in this part being able to know that you can talk to someone, and they won’t go behind your back and talk to other people about it.” Helping their own get the help they need, so they can continue to protect and serve.