Cops and Joggers turns a night run into a community tradition with heart. We shine a light on what makes this 5K special: a fast, scenic route, an atmosphere for families, and a mission that delivers real help where it matters.

Joined by Officer Hughes and Captain Valdivia, we unpack the race’s purpose and impact. Proceeds support the Fort Myers Police Department’s Fallen Officer Memorial Foundation, funding travel for families to National Police Week in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., and aiding like‑minded organizations that serve first responders. We dig into why the event moved to January to avoid hurricane season, how the cooler evening setting boosts the experience, and what first‑timers should know about packet pickup, parking garages, and arriving early to enjoy the pre‑race fun.

Expect more than miles. We tease possible post‑race entertainment, highlight age‑group trophies and crowd‑pleasing light‑up medals, and make the case for walkers and families to join. Most of all, we share how the night creates space to honor fallen officers, tell their stories, and build genuine connections between the department and the community it serves.

Ready to run, walk, or cheer? Subscribe for more community spotlights, share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge to register, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. We’ll see you at the starting line.

We take you inside Fort Myers’ Crisis Response Unit, where trained officers and behavioral health clinicians arrive together to stabilize high-stress situations, listen without judgment, and guide people toward care instead of cuffs. This is a ground-level look at what happens when public safety and mental health pull in the same direction.

We talk with Sgt. Antonini, who helped design the program, and Heather Cross from the Center for Progress and Excellence, the partner providing mobile clinicians. They share why local call data demanded a new approach, how training goes beyond a single 40-hour course, and what realistic scenario drills teach about scene safety, role clarity, and time as a de-escalation tool. You’ll hear concrete examples of on‑scene practice: slowing the pace, validating feelings, building safety plans that keep people out of involuntary hospitalization, and connecting them with case management that solves barriers like transportation, cost, and insurance.

The results are measurable. By tracking monthly outcomes—diversion rates, Baker Acts, arrests, and use of force—the team shows a clear uptick in diversions when the co-responder unit handles the call. That’s fewer ER beds and jail bookings, more trust with residents, and a stronger network of community partners ready to help. Services are free, mobile, and available 24/7 across Lee County, from homes and parks to gas stations and highway shoulders. If you can’t recall the 844 number, you can still ask 911 to send the co-responder team and request CPE by name for behavioral health needs.

Share the episode with a neighbor, subscribe for more frontline stories, and leave a quick review telling us what your city should try next. Your feedback helps this work reach the people who need it most.

The room changes when people who’ve seen the worst days talk about building better ones. We sit down with two Army veterans from our training division—Officer Wells and Officer Spencer—who trace a line from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to roll call in Fort Myers. Their stories are honest and grounded: why the uniform still matters, how civilian life can feel unstructured, and what it takes to make clear decisions when the pressure spikes and seconds count.

We dig into the training philosophy that shapes our officers: crawl, walk, run; basics before flash; mentorship that corrects and encourages. You’ll hear how hood drills and stress inoculation reveal true readiness, how leadership means anticipating needs and communicating cleanly, and why consistent reps on fundamentals—traffic stops, de-escalation, tactical movement, communication—build the reflexes that keep everyone safer. Along the way, they share the small moments that stay with veterans: the first cheeseburger back home, the feel of carpet under bare feet, the quiet gratitude of being stateside with family.

Threaded through it all is the spirit of Veterans Day—esprit de corps, service beyond self, and respect for anyone who signed the line, regardless of MOS or years served. We talk about transferring combat-earned calm to the street, turning experience into empathy, and living for the aha moment when a trainee finally owns a skill. If you care about public safety, leadership, and what real training looks like from the inside, this conversation delivers hard-won insight with heart.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who values service, and leave a review to help others find these stories. Your feedback shapes future episodes and keeps this mission moving.

Planning ahead for a safer city takes more than good intentions; it takes the right teams, tools, and training. We sit down with Chief Jason Fields and K9 Sergeant Sanders to unpack the expansion of the Fort Myers Police Department’s K9 unit—what’s changing, why it matters now, and how specialized dogs elevate safety at scale. From 24/7 coverage to new capabilities like gun and explosives detection, we explore how this growth meets the moment for busy events, school safety, and faster, more precise investigations.

You’ll hear how the unit blends patrol skills such as tracking and building searches with narcotics, firearms, and article detection to locate suspects, shell casings, and discarded evidence. We go inside the rigorous tryout process that selects patrol all-stars who can think clearly under stress, then follow them into K9 school where trust, communication, and reward-based training transform high-drive dogs into disciplined partners. The bond goes home after shift, too—handlers live with their dogs, building a 24/7 connection that pays off in focus and control on the street.

We also pull back the curtain on sourcing: why the team relies on a proven German vendor for durable, reliable dogs, what environmental tests look like, and how continuous training turns preparation into performance. A real-world story brings it to life—a challenging water and woods track that ended in a safe arrest thanks to persistence and odor-driven work. As the city grows, this expansion becomes a force multiplier: more coverage, faster response, and a visible deterrent at schools, hospitals, and large gatherings. Join us, meet the handlers and their four-legged partners, and see how proactive planning builds trust and keeps Fort Myers safe. If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others discover it.

Fort Myers is growing fast, but the story we’re telling is how safety keeps pace. Chief Jason Fields joins us to open the doors on FMPD’s past, present, and next chapter—why a small city can operate with big-city capability, how leadership changes set a new tempo, and what it takes to modernize without losing touch with the community. From early marshals and two patrol cars to a near fully staffed department supported by a skilled civilian backbone, we map the real systems behind steady crime reduction as population climbs.

We walk through the two pillars that guide our strategy: relentless crime fighting and genuine community engagement. That focus shows up in the details—fleet updates that cut costs and downtime while embracing the thin blue line identity, F-150 durability for K9 teams, and procurement choices that put more vehicles on the road faster. It shows up in the uniforms too: breathable materials and load-bearing outer vests built for Southwest Florida’s heat, helping officers work longer and safer with growing equipment demands. These aren’t cosmetic changes; they’re practical upgrades that boost readiness, comfort, and response.

The headline ahead is our future headquarters. Right now, units are scattered across substations and shared spaces. The new, state-of-the-art facility brings everyone together: expanded dispatch, evidence capacity, a modern gun range, protected vehicle storage, and a large community room designed for real public access. Unifying operations tightens communication, accelerates intel, and strengthens service citywide. Chief Fields shares a clear vision—stack small improvements into outsized gains and keep building a premier agency tailored to Fort Myers’ growth.

If you care about how policing evolves to meet a city’s needs—technology, talent, transparency, and trust—you’ll find substance here. Hit follow, share with a neighbor who loves Fort Myers, and tell us: what should we explore next?