Cape CopCast

In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief’s Chat,' we're talking about a horrific murder case that rocked Cape Coral in the '70s and still shapes our community today. It's been 50 years since nine-year-old Jason Verdow was lured at his bus stop, kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered in 1976. It's a case that challenges the old "stranger danger" stereotype and highlights that predators don't always look like how we would imagine.
From there, we bring the conversation into 2026 parenting reality: online safety, gaming headsets, and the slow pressure tactics that grooming often relies on. We talk about what to say to your kids in plain language, how to set boundaries without banning everything, and why monitoring chats matters for bullying, threats, and escalating behavior. If you’ve ever wondered how to translate “be careful online” into specific rules your child can actually follow, this is the practical playbook.

We also share a clear example of technology used for good: real-time crime center coordination, license plate readers, and OnStar tracking that helped lead to a quick arrest and the removal of drugs and a gun from the street. Finally, we highlight community events we care about, including the NAMI walk and how crisis intervention training (CIT) helps us respond better to mental health crises, plus the annual candlelight ceremony that supports survivors through grief with connection and remembrance.

This week, we had two tragic DUI cases: one a fatal crash, and another stopped by a brave 13-year-old who called 911. In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we walk through what happened, why impaired driving is never an accident, and how early planning—rideshare, a designated driver, or a spare room—prevents tragedy long before the first drink is poured. This sparks a conversation about the limits of enforcement, even with DUI operations and dedicated night-time DUI officers, and make the case that responsibility is the biggest fix. 
We then pivot to discussing upcoming events, including the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, a tradition that unites agencies across Lee County and channels miles into inclusion and support. We highlight the NAMI Bridge Walk and how it ties into our Crisis Intervention Team training, plus a packed local calendar that makes February and March perfect for getting outside, moving your body, and connecting with neighbors. 
We also remind you about our Financial Crimes Town Hall at the Lake Kennedy Center on Monday, March 2nd at 1 p.m. Our Economic Crimes Unit Detectives will break down current scams, warning signs, and simple ways to protect your accounts and identity, so you can stress less and enjoy more sunsets.

Let’s set the record straight. In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we break down how our department can be fully staffed today and still need to grow to protect response times and service quality tomorrow. Using independent urban growth modeling and clear performance metrics, we walk through Project 35—our 10-year roadmap that aligns people, places, and gear with real population trends rather than guesswork. You’ll hear how we translate complex forecasts into practical steps city leadership and residents can understand and support.

We dig into the headline-grabber—“we could use 57 more people today”—and explain why that number reflects future capacity needs, not current vacancies. Think of it like this: the bucket (authorized positions) is full, but the city keeps pouring in. To keep service consistent per resident, we need a bigger bucket, not because of turnover or culture issues, but because growth is accelerating. That’s why a steady ramp of 20 to 30 officers per year makes sense; it preserves hiring standards, training quality, and the culture that keeps great people here.

We also talk about where to get reliable information in a landscape filled with rumor and hot takes. Primary sources matter: our official channels, website, and credentialed news outlets. And we’re showing up where you are—'Coffee with a Cop' at high-traffic spots like Target and at local cafes and churches—so you can ask anything and meet the people behind the badge on good days, not just tough ones. Rounding things out, we spotlight upcoming community events and invite you to our Financial Crimes Town Hall, where detectives share the latest scams, prevention tips, and how to report effectively. (More info here).

If you value fast response, professional service, and a department rooted in strong culture and accountability, this conversation lays out exactly how we plan to keep it that way as Cape Coral grows.

In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we pull back the curtain on the quieter machinery that keeps a city safe: Public Service Aides who investigate crashes, document burglaries, gather fingerprints, and build the reports that solve everyday problems. Jennifer Wein, a 14-year Cape Coral PD professional who moved from dispatch to the street, shares how PSAs shoulder the report-heavy calls so officers can stay available for high-priority incidents—without sacrificing quality or accountability.

You’ll hear what a PSA can and can’t do. PSA Wein breaks down the training path, including traffic enforcement coursework, forensic fingerprinting, and a structured field training program she now leads as an FTO. She talks through a typical day in those new PSA trucks, how she and her teammates split the city to cut response times, and why some days bring twenty crash scenes while others are all about burglary fingerprints or fast-moving fraud reports.

We also tackle misconceptions—PSAs are not volunteers—and talk prevention. Lock your car. Slow down in school zones as “red speed” cameras generate a steady flow of citations. Watch for modern scam tactics that use pressure and fear to separate you from your money. For anyone curious about a future in law enforcement, the PSA role doubles as a powerful pipeline: start at eighteen, learn the craft of field work and report writing, and build a foundation for becoming a sworn officer.

And a reminder about our upcoming Fraud & Financial Crimes Town Hall on Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 1 PM at the Lake Kennedy Center. To learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H8UFCY6xC/

In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we invited Sergeant Morgan Mills and Officer Steven Klackowicz to pull back the curtain on day shift patrol in Cape Coral—where a quiet morning can turn into a hot call in seconds, and a “slow” precinct like the Northwest becomes a laboratory for proactive policing. From the first moments of roll call to the final report, they walk us through the real workflow that keeps a city safe.

You’ll hear how precincts shape the job: Southeast pulses with bar traffic and back‑to‑back calls, while the Northwest’s residential stretch allows targeted patrols, traffic enforcement on Burnt Store Road, and community touchpoints that prevent crime before it starts. We unpack the top daytime calls—vehicle crashes and overnight vehicle burglaries discovered at dawn—and the triage that determines who gets help first. There’s practical advice here for residents too: when a phone report beats waiting on scene, why locking cars at night still matters, and how traffic visibility aims to educate, not just cite.

The conversation turns inside the perimeter on a recent armed robbery response: securing the scene, setting a perimeter, spinning up UAV and aviation support, and carefully transitioning to detectives and forensics once the scene stabilizes. It’s a choreography that looks static from the outside but protects lives and preserves evidence. Along the way, Sergeant Mills shares the view from the supervisor seat—approvals, mentoring, and trusting experienced officers—while Officer Klakowicz highlights a culture of problem solving that keeps the whole shift moving. The human thread ties it together: officers working overtime, parents juggling schedules, people managing stressful moments at crash scenes. When both sides bring patience and grace, service is faster, safer, and better.