Charlotte County Sheriff’s office investigating deputy-involved shootingVeteran injured in crash that killed wife
ENGLEWOOD Charlotte County Sheriff’s office investigating deputy-involved shooting The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting in Englewood on Friday night.
Veteran injured in crash that killed wife WINK News has learned that a veteran’s wife was killed in a crash on Wednesday on State Road 82.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda to repair old city hall building The City of Punta Gorda is scrapping plans to build a new city hall.
SWFL teen injured in New Orleans terror attack released from hospital According to the mom of one of the teens injured in the New Orleans Terror attack on New Year’s Day, she has been released from the hospital.
NAPLES Jay Leno comedy show coming to Southwest Florida One of the most famous comedians in the world is coming to Southwest Florida.
SOUTH NAPLES Collier neighbors anticipating second Costco location Members of a community are waiting for one of the most popular wholesale stores, but there is something standing in the way.
AVE MARIA Caught on camera: Massive gator seen in front of Ave Maria home A massive alligator was seen using a walking path in front of an Ave Maria home, and it was all caught on camera.
NCAA approves plan to pay women’s basketball tournament teams In a historic unanimous vote, the NCAA approves of a plan to pay women’s basketball teams that compete in March Madness.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers announces Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival The City of Fort Myers invites the public to the 21st anniversary of the Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival in downtown Fort Myers.
MATLACHA Neighbors protest delay in repairs to Matlacha Pass Bridge People are set to take the streets and protest the delay in repairs to the Matlacha Pass Bridge.
Port Authority postpones talk of RSW’s $346M, four-year delayed terminal expansion Lee County and Port Authority Commissioner Brian Hamman finally had a public forum to get some answers on why a construction project went more than $346 million over budget and will be more than four years behind schedule to complete.
DeSantis responds to question on possible Sheriff Marceno suspension Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed calls for the suspension of Lee County’s sheriff amid an FBI investigation into his office.
Annette’s Beach Book Nook celebrates grand reopening on Fort Myers Beach From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Annette Stillson finally will be celebrating the grand reopening of the new-look Annette’s Beach Book Nook.
Punta Gorda renowned media artist finds safe haven for work Former businessman and artist David Sussman, known for his photography on canvas and coffee-table photography books, has found a safe, flood-proof homestead after he lost several homes and studios to hurricanes.
ENGLEWOOD Charlotte County Sheriff’s office investigating deputy-involved shooting The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting in Englewood on Friday night.
Veteran injured in crash that killed wife WINK News has learned that a veteran’s wife was killed in a crash on Wednesday on State Road 82.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda to repair old city hall building The City of Punta Gorda is scrapping plans to build a new city hall.
SWFL teen injured in New Orleans terror attack released from hospital According to the mom of one of the teens injured in the New Orleans Terror attack on New Year’s Day, she has been released from the hospital.
NAPLES Jay Leno comedy show coming to Southwest Florida One of the most famous comedians in the world is coming to Southwest Florida.
SOUTH NAPLES Collier neighbors anticipating second Costco location Members of a community are waiting for one of the most popular wholesale stores, but there is something standing in the way.
AVE MARIA Caught on camera: Massive gator seen in front of Ave Maria home A massive alligator was seen using a walking path in front of an Ave Maria home, and it was all caught on camera.
NCAA approves plan to pay women’s basketball tournament teams In a historic unanimous vote, the NCAA approves of a plan to pay women’s basketball teams that compete in March Madness.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers announces Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival The City of Fort Myers invites the public to the 21st anniversary of the Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival in downtown Fort Myers.
MATLACHA Neighbors protest delay in repairs to Matlacha Pass Bridge People are set to take the streets and protest the delay in repairs to the Matlacha Pass Bridge.
Port Authority postpones talk of RSW’s $346M, four-year delayed terminal expansion Lee County and Port Authority Commissioner Brian Hamman finally had a public forum to get some answers on why a construction project went more than $346 million over budget and will be more than four years behind schedule to complete.
DeSantis responds to question on possible Sheriff Marceno suspension Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed calls for the suspension of Lee County’s sheriff amid an FBI investigation into his office.
Annette’s Beach Book Nook celebrates grand reopening on Fort Myers Beach From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Annette Stillson finally will be celebrating the grand reopening of the new-look Annette’s Beach Book Nook.
Punta Gorda renowned media artist finds safe haven for work Former businessman and artist David Sussman, known for his photography on canvas and coffee-table photography books, has found a safe, flood-proof homestead after he lost several homes and studios to hurricanes.
Crime scene in Lee County. Credit: WINK News Law enforcement agencies are looking for people to come work with them. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is even hosting a job fair Thursday. To what extent are Southwest Florida agencies seeing an officer shortage? Some places, like Washington or Chicago, are seeing marked shortages, and a handful of police agencies are offering big incentives to fill the shoes of the staff they don’t have as a result. There are several reasons for the shortages: Baby Boomers are retiring, the job is seen as dangerous by potential recruits and it does not always pay especially well. But agencies WINK News reached out to in Southwest Florida gave mixed responses. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says it launched a campaign between June and October that brought in a number of candidates. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is actively hiring, looking to fill 34 law enforcement positions. The Cape Coral Police Department, on the other hand, has had no difficulty staying fully staffed, saying it currently has a pool of over 100 applicants. “We’re doing wonderfully,” said Master Cpl. Phil Mullen with CCPD. “Our allotted number of officers is actually pretty much full, and that might be for the first time in many years. We always have a few leave through retirement or attrition and then we have to replace those few, but we may be actually full right now.” Some have cited vaccine mandates as another reason for officer shortages, with some leaving the industry because of them. Gov. Ron DeSantis says he wants those people to come down to Florida, offering a $5,000 cash incentive for law enforcement to relocate. “We provide protections for people,” DeSantis said. “No nurse, no firefighter, no police officer, no trucker, no anybody should lose their job because of these COVID[-19] jabs.” DCSO’s hiring event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its headquarters at 208 East Cypress St. in Arcadia. It is hiring a number of positions, from deputies and 911 telecommunications to IT support specialists If you go, you can get your application reviewed and your interview done on the same day.