FORT MYERS, Fla. -- City leaders are expected to approve an agreement for creation of a new substation for the Fort Myers Police Department in the city.
The agreement would allow the department to move forward with plans for a substation, occupying a building on Fowler Street between Central and Evans Avenue. This was among several recommendations listed in a critical independent audit released earlier this year.
Chief Derrick Diggs told Fox 4 this continues his initiative to improve communty-police relations in the city. "This will have our officers more involved in neighborhoods, and the problems in there, and help move our community policing initiatives forward," he said. "Have an opportunity for citizens to come in and make reports, meet with our officers, and have community meetings."
The area surrounding Fowler has been the scene of several violent crimes in the past. A few months ago, a local Fort Myers DJ was killed in the parking lot of Scarlett's Cabaret. In the same plaza as the proposed substation, was Club Blue, where two teens were shot to death last summer.
People in the area welcomed the idea of the substation. Next door at Epic Insurance, Natalie Rivera felt the community would benefit from the new location. "We've been here for four years, so we were here when the Club Blue shooting happened, we were also here for the Scarlett's shooting. As a business owner, it made us feel a little uneasy," she said. I don't think the relationship is that great and I think this is a good stepping stone of getting n the direction me and most people would like it to be. We're super excited and couldn't feel better about it."
The vote will happen on Monday, June 19th. Follow Fox 4 for the latest developments.
