CAPE CORAL, FL - Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki filed a restraining order against a city firefighter this week saying their rocky relationship is making her fear for her safety. The petition for injunction was filed against Lt. Kenneth Retzer, a veteran of the Cape Coral Fire Department and Sawicki’s ex boyfriend. Sawicki claims she’s received multiple threats of bodily harm, even causing her to miss Monday’s city council meeting.
Four In Your Corner reached out to Mayor Sawicki, who didn’t want to comment on the restraining order.
In the Petition for Injuction for Protection Against Dating Violence filed by Sawicki, she said her and Retzer had been dating off and on for the past three years. And even though they had a “romantic relationship,” they broke up about every 6 to 8 weeks.
On May 9th, Sawicki says she, “decided to not give in the madness anymore.” Up until that point, she said the two would get back together, “mostly because I would get tired and worn down and would just give in.”
In the petition, Sawicki says that since their last breakup, Retzer would send hundreds of texts to her a day, show up to council meetings and leave several threatening voicemails a day. One time, she says, “he was threatening to destroy me.”
The rocky turn of events made her decide not to attend Monday’s city council meeting. But the texts and voicemails didn’t stop.
“I am scared to go to meetings, deactivated Facebook and due to his state of mind am afriad of what he will do.”
She writes that while she fears for her safety, she didn’t want to get Cape Coral Police involved because he’s a firefighter.
Four In Your Corner reached out to the Cape Coral Fire Department for a statement. Their response: Lt. Retzer is not facing any disciplinary action internally.
The court hearing will take place on Monday May 23rd. If the restraining order is finalized, Retzer wouldn’t be able to call, text, or visit Sawicki at home or work.
