Fort Myers Police Department Explained

Agencyname:Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD)
Abbreviation:FMPD
Subdivtype:City
Subdivname:Fort Myers, Florida
Headquarters:2210 Widman Way Fort Myers, FL 33901
Sworntype:Police Officer
Chief1position:Chief
Stationtype:Area Command
Vehicle1type:Marked and Unmarked Car
Animal1type:Dog
Animal2type:Horse

The Fort Myers Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for primary law enforcement services in the city of Fort Myers, Florida.

In 2015, officers from the agency arrested former professional football player Nate Allen. Allen was later released and cleared of any charges. An investigation uncovered evidence that Chief Doug Baker had discrepancies in his reports and statements. Baker was fired and an interim chief was appointed.[1]

In June 2016, after a six-month national search, the city manager named Derrick Diggs as the next chief of police.[2] Diggs, who is retired from the Toledo (OH) Police Department[3] was unanimously approved by the city council.[4]

Chiefs of police

Equipment

The department acquired a MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle from the U.S. government in 2014. The vehicle, which replaced a surplus V-150, is used by the agency SWAT team.[7]

Fallen officers

The FMPD has lost seven officers and two K-9s in the line of duty since 1930.[8] The first officer to fall in the line of duty was Lieutenant Matthew Hisler, who succumbed to a shotgun blast to the leg on January 3 that he had sustained two days prior when attempting to arrest a man making threats and causing a disturbance.[9]

One officer, Detective Mark Bolhouse suffered a fatal heart attack while inside the Greenwood Police Department headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana. Bolhouse had travelled to Greenwood as part of an investigation into stolen property within Fort Myers.[10]

Three officers and one K-9 have been fatally shot by criminals, three officers have been killed when they were struck by vehicles, and one officer and one K-9 fell to illness or a medical emergency.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fort Myers Police Chief Doug Baker fired in wake of NFL player's wrongful arrest. Dulaney. Cody. August 15, 2015. Fort Myers News-Press. 28 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Fort Myers manager names Derrick Diggs as next police chief. Dulaney. Cody. June 26, 2016. News-Press. 28 July 2016.
  3. Web site: Former Toledo chief tapped to lead Fort Myers PD. Chambers. Stan. June 28, 2016. WINK. 28 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Outsider Derrick Diggs to head Fort Myers Police Department. Pinsker. Adam. July 1, 2016. WFTX. 28 July 2016.
  5. Book: Moses Schulz, Dorothy. Breaking the Brass Ceiling: Women Police Chiefs and Their Paths to the Top. 2004. Praeger Publishers. 53.
  6. Web site: FMPD chief said violence in city worse than he anticipated. Mato. Nestor. 2016-09-18.
  7. Web site: Fort Myers police upgrade armored ride. Montoya. Melissa. June 6, 2014. News-Press. 28 July 2016.
  8. Web site: Remembering Our Heroes . 2024-05-18 . Fort Myers Police Department.
  9. Web site: Lieutenant Matthew G. Hisler . 2024-05-18 . Fort Myers Police Department.
  10. Web site: Detective Mark Alan Bolhouse . 2024-05-18 . Officer Down Memorial Page.