Your child can be “just playing a game” while also messaging strangers, joining private servers, and getting pulled into conversations you never see. That gap between what parents think is happening and what’s actually happening online is where a lot of harm starts, and it’s why we’re digging into real-world internet safety for kids with someone who investigates these cases every day.

I’m joined by Officer Blow from the Fort Myers Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit to explain what investigators are seeing right now across social media safety, online gaming chat, messaging apps, and private communities. We talk about how offenders follow kids into the platforms they already love, including Discord, Roblox, and kid-focused games like Zepeto that still include chat features. We also cover disappearing messages on apps like Snapchat and Instagram, plus encrypted messaging spaces such as Telegram and WhatsApp, and why those tools can make grooming and sextortion harder for families to spot.

We also get direct about emerging threats: AI and graphic design are showing up in child exploitation investigations, and AI-generated CSAM is still a serious crime. Most importantly, we share warning signs parents can actually use, how to keep communication open without turning into a “helicopter parent,” and the critical steps to take if something feels off. If you’re worried you’ll say the wrong thing, we also explain what not to do, including deleting chats or confronting an offender, because digital evidence can be time sensitive and can help protect a child.

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A badge can look like a symbol from a distance, but up close it has a name, a laugh, a partner’s memories, and a family that never fully stops grieving. We sit down with Captain Yates to talk about what National Police Week means to our department, why May 15 matters, and how a week of remembrance becomes something deeper than ceremony when you’ve served beside someone who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We unpack what “never forget” looks like in real life: gathering with survivors, saying the names again, and wearing memorial bands across the badge as a visible sign of mourning and unity. Captain Yates shares what it takes to support families traveling to memorial events in Washington, DC and at the state level, and why honor guard members choose the tough job of escorting families through every moment, from the first ceremony to the flight home.

Police Week also shines a light on the officers who still report for duty. We talk about the emotional whiplash of the job, the many roles officers fill on calls, and what we wish the community understood about the human being behind the uniform. The conversation closes with the Brotherhood Ride and the question that anchors it all: “What’s your why?” It’s a powerful reminder that remembrance is not passive, it’s something we do.

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Most of the time, you only notice a police department when something is going wrong. But the work that helps a case stand up in court, helps the public get answers, and keeps the whole system honest often happens quietly at the records counter. We sit down with Records Supervisor Alicia Sarge to talk about the side of public safety that runs on documentation, deadlines, and careful judgment.

Alicia shares her 18-year journey from starting as a janitor to leading the team that reviews the paperwork and digital evidence that flows through the department. We unpack what “records” actually means day to day: checking reports for accuracy, coordinating with the clerk of court and the state attorney’s office, guiding people at the front desk through stressful moments, and navigating Florida public records law with the right redactions and review steps.

Then we get into the scale. The department fulfilled 22,000 public records requests in a year, and a single request can involve dozens of hours of body-worn camera video, multiple officers on scene, and painstaking review. Alicia explains why the agency can provide records that exist but cannot create new videos or custom clips, and why that “15 minutes” can take far longer to process than most people expect.

The first responder you meet might never step out of a car. We sit down with Kat and Haley from the Fort Myers Police Department 911 communications center to talk about the work that starts before lights and sirens: being the steady voice on the other end of the line. They walk us through what a shift actually feels like, how a call can jump from routine to life-threatening in seconds, and why dispatchers have to “live in two worlds at once” calm on the outside while planning ahead on the inside.

We also get practical about police dispatch and emergency communications: what runs through a dispatcher’s mind in the first seconds, how training and repetition build composure, and how they block out the noise of a busy room without missing the key details. Kat and Haley share what surprises most people, especially the level of compartmentalization it takes to move from one intense call to the next, and the teamwork happening behind the scenes while units are already en route.

Finally, we talk about what 911 callers can do to help: stay calm, answer the questions, and remember there is a reason for every question. If you have ever wondered what to say when calling 911, or how dispatchers handle chaos during major incidents and fast-moving tips, this conversation gives you a clear view of the process and the people who keep it running. Subscribe to FMPD Roll Call, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one thing you learned from the voice behind the line.

You see the lights and the marching bands. We see the map that keeps thousands moving, the radios that connect teams across blocks, and the plan that protects every family lining the curb. This week, we take you behind the scenes of how Fort Myers Police Department prepares for the Edison Festival of Light Parade and other major city events—turning complex logistics into a safe, unforgettable night downtown.

We walk through how early planning transforms uncertainty into action: estimating crowd size, testing route options, staging floats, and protecting pedestrian zones. Our conversation highlights the power of partnerships. From EMS on bikes and carts to Fire pre-positioned for quick response, from Public Works handling barricades to Traffic Engineering optimizing signals and detours, it’s a citywide effort calibrated for both parade-goers and everyday drivers who still need to get home, reach work, or access care. Regional agencies add muscle and insight, ensuring a unified approach for the biggest nights of the year.

We also detail the safety core: vehicle mitigation at entry points, medical lanes held open, layered road closures that keep the route clean and the city connected. Plans A, B, and C are more than paperwork; they’re the framework for adapting to weather, crowds, and surprises. Most importantly, we share practical guidance for residents and visitors—review closure maps, arrive early, stay patient, and use official updates. And yes, see something, say something remains essential. Your quick call can prevent a small issue from becoming a big problem.

If you’re heading to the Edison Parade, this is your briefing on what to expect and how to help the night run smoothly. Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes safety insights, share with a friend who’s attending, and leave a review to tell us what you want us to cover next.

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.

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