Chief's Chat #41: How CCPD is already prepared for Hurricane Season

Chief's Chat #41: How CCPD is already prepared for Hurricane Season

In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we sit down with Chief Sizemore to get real about hurricane preparedness in Cape Coral, from the anxiety many of us feel on June 1 to the hard-earned lessons from storms like Ian. El Nino, La Nina, projected storm counts... none of that changes the bottom line: it only takes one, and readiness beats optimism every time. We break down what our police department actually does as a storm approaches, and the moment we have to stop responding for safety. We discuss how we stage personnel before conditions deteriorate, what happens inside the building when sustained winds hit 45 mph, and the personal prep basics we expect from our own staff: a real family plan, cash on hand, prescriptions, uniforms, food, and the items that matter when you are working around the clock. After the storm, we explain “first push,” the initial damage assessment that guides everything that comes next, and how alpha/bravo scheduling helps us handle both regular calls for service and hurricane recovery missions. That includes welfare checks, traffic control, generator deployments, protecting limited fuel resources, supporting points of distribution, and keeping the city moving toward normal as fast as possible.

Chief's Chat #40: How We Use Tech & Teamwork To Stop Crime In-Progress

A Memorial Day morning can reset your sense of what “service” really means. We begin with Chief Anthony Sizemore reflecting on the Coral Ridge Memorial Day Ceremony and the way fallen heroes are remembered not just in speeches, but in the families who return every year. When the Eggers family is honored in Washington, DC, it hits home here in Cape Coral, especially as the next generation steps forward to continue a military legacy. Then the tone shifts hard into the work: an early-morning call about a vehicle burglary in progress escalates into a coordinated response that leads to five arrests, including juveniles and young adults connected to a wider pattern of crime. We walk through what it looks like when policing is both fast and precise, from UAV drones with thermal imaging to K9 tracking, plus support from Lee County Sheriffs' Office Aviation and real-time intelligence that helps connect suspects to warrants and prior cases. We also dig into the question we hear all the time: where do public safety dollars actually go? Staffing, training, supervision, and law enforcement technology are not competing ideas, they are a system that has to work together while the rest of the city still needs help.

Wellness with Peer Support Team Leader Officer Shawn Frazin

Officer wellness shows up in every call for service, every tough conversation, and every split-second decision. In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we’re joined by Officer Shawn Frazin, a longtime patrol officer who’s stepping into a major new role as our Peer Support Team Leader, to explain what real support looks like inside a police department and why trust is the foundation of everything. We talk through how peer support actually works day to day: a trained team, confidential conversations, and practical help when someone feels stuck and doesn’t even know where to start. We also discuss critical incidents and why a simple follow-up weeks later can matter just as much as the initial debrief. Officer Frazin also shares how crisis intervention training (CIT) and NAMI resources change outcomes on mental health calls by giving officers tools to de-escalate, treat people with dignity, and connect them to services beyond a quick fix. Along the way, we touch on the department’s evolving wellness culture, leadership support, and why asking for help should be seen as strength, not risk.

Chief's Chat #39: National Police Week

National Police Week isn’t just a feel-good tradition for us. It’s a week that holds two truths at the same time: pride in the profession and a clear-eyed look at the sacrifice behind the badge. Hosts Lisa Greenberg and Officer Mercedes Simonds of the Public Affairs Office sit down with Chief Anthony Sizemore to talk about what Police Week looks like at the Cape Coral Police Department. We get into the moments that build culture and connection, from the formal memorial ceremony with honor guard and reflection, to the simple power of command staff cooking burgers and hot dogs for the troops. We then discuss how we honor line of duty deaths, the risks that don’t always get attention like traffic crashes, and why police suicide and officer mental health have to be part of modern law enforcement leadership. Chief shares a framework we keep coming back to: real remembrance is action. That means doing the job the right way, treating people with respect, and giving full effort on every call. It also means building a supportive police department environment with peer support, trauma resources, and financial wellness education so stress doesn’t quietly pile up.

Chief's Chat #38: Faster Response Times with More Calls & the Kayla Rincon-Miller Murder Trial

In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we cover: * The conviction in the murder of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller * The arrests of 15 people in a years-long narcotics investigation by NETFORCE * The latest data showing our calls for service are up, our response time is down, and our vacancy rate is the lowest it's been in years Chief Sizemore shares what it was like sit with Kayla's family in court, and why we keep saying a guilty verdict is justice but not closure. We also discuss what it takes to build a case from the smallest starting point, including digital forensics, analytics, and a timeline strong enough to stand up in trial. We then talk about how the collaborative NETFORCE arrests underscore the real link between violent crime and narcotics trafficking across Southwest Florida, with a multi-year investigation involving fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, THC wax, major currency seizures, and 30 firearms removed from circulation. The takeaway is simple: criminals cross borders, so effective policing has to cross them too. We close with the numbers that shape everything: calls for service are climbing fast, yet our Priority 1 response time drops below five minutes. We explain how data-driven policing, redistricting into four precincts, and smart deployment help reduce the time from ring to knock and why we still need staffing growth even with a low vacancy rate.