My Platform
Below are a just a few changes that will be made starting on day one, when I am elected as our next sheriff:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office currently carries a budget of almost $300 million, making it one of the highest-funded government agencies in Lee County.
However, under the current Sheriff’s reign, taxpayer dollars have been used to purchase and maintain useless assets such as a “King Air” fixed- wing aircraft, a petting zoo, three different Ice Cream trucks, a farm tractor, eight community outreach centers, and many more items the general public does not know about.
These items specifically are the target of my asset sell-off plan because they serve no law enforcement function and they drain public funds through on-going rent, maintenance, and replacement costs. On day one, I will initiate the sale of these assets to generate millions in new revenue to fund a forensic audit of the agency.
This audit goes beyond a generalized financial review; this audit will detect improper and/or illegal activity, exploit which agency members are complicit in the corruption and aide in bringing necessary criminal charges, and determine how to reduce waste and enhance transparency.
This will provide the opportunity to immediately shift from a middle management-heavy organizational structure to a more resource-heavy, front-line Deputy and community-focused organization.
Organizations overloaded with middle and upper management positions struggles with inefficiency, bureaucracy, and poor communication.
Transparency disappears, costs increase, and morale sinks to extreme lows.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is overloaded with middle management positions, many of which have been created only recently.
There has been no on-going need for these positions, there are no new units requiring supervision, nor any additional budget dollars or grant money coming in which would necessitate such a burdensome number of middle managers.
By the time I finish eradicating the wasteful spending via needless administrative tasks being performed by those making six-figure salaries, I will use those new salary dollars to strengthen the front-line of the agency. For each of these useless positions I eliminate, I will replace it with a position on the front line – where the community needs it most.
No patrol shift, no community service aide, no jail shift, nor any other unit or office within the agency should have to struggle to carry the workload when the agency is so well-funded.
- More front-line Deputies
- Less middle management
- More support staff positions for essential functions
Lee County has grown to a population beyond what infrastructure can handle, including our roads. People are justifiably frustrated.
Unfortunately, that frustration has resulted in the unsafe road conditions we experience today. Too many crashes… too many deaths. Upon taking office, the current Sheriff intentionally reduced the Traffic Unit to less than half its size and, as a result, the culture of safety has eroded and the prevalence of speeding, DUI, and aggressive driving has risen.
Upon taking office, this problem will be one of my first priorities. I will more than double the size of the Unit, add additional Deputies for DUI enforcement, and seek the most advanced driver and pursuit training for all members of the unit. These deputies will be the top-tier of all traffic cops. They will know the law better, keep our streets safer, and arrest those who turn safe drivers into victims.
- Triple the size of the Traffic Unit
- Grow the size of the DUI Unit
- Comprehensive pursuit policy
- Elite training
Lehigh Acres is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country. Its growth outpaces infrastructure, resulting in increased crime and increased traffic issues.
If you live in Lehigh Acres, you are statistically more likely to be a victim of a property crime and/or violent crime relative to Florida as a whole. Also, Lehigh is safer than only 36% of all US cities; in a region that is known for its safety and beauty, these statistics are staggering and problematic.
The current Sheriff has neglected Lehigh Acres, in that there is not ONE Community Outreach Center, he is never seen attending and interacting with the public, and agency staffing in Lehigh Acres is strained and inadequate.
On day one of my administration, this will change; SR-82 will be flooded with assets, all major roads will be patrolled daily by our newly expanded Traffic Unit, and staffing for the patrol shifts and investigations will be doubled.
- Focus on stringent traffic enforcement
- Increase staff for all functions (patrol, investigations, community service aides)
- Zero-tolerance on criminal infractions
Across the nation, law enforcement is on the front lines of the mental health crisis, with up to 10% of interactions involving individuals with a mental health diagnosis, and 20% of calls for service relating to mental health or substance abuse crises.
Despite this, current law enforcement hiring practices often lack a formal requirement for mental health training.
The current practice for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office lacks training during the FTO phase of a new hire, lacks requirements during the hiring process to include experience with mental health, and requires no on-going training to support Deputies’ constant dealings with these vulnerable members of our community.
In response, I will establish the Mental Health Services Unit within the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; this unit will consist of licensed professionals, including Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Mental Health Counselors, who will work alongside Deputies during patrol shifts.
They will respond to calls involving mental health crises and offer ongoing support to both the community and our Deputies. These permanent employees will be true mental health first-responders, in that they are the first to the scene of a mental health crisis which will give the victim the support and therapeutic experience they deserve.
Additionally, I will mandate comprehensive and ongoing mental health training for all Deputies and CSAs. This training, led by credentialed experts, will include strategies for mental health support, crisis intervention, and therapy techniques.
We must ensure that everyone in our community is treated with dignity, kindness, and fairness, especially in their most vulnerable moments.
- Dedicated mental health professionals
- On-going training
Children are the foundation of our future, and their safety must be our top priority.
As Sheriff, I will be a tireless advocate for protecting our children. T
o combat the growing issue of human and child trafficking, I will establish a dedicated Human/Child Trafficking Unit.
This unit will integrate the expertise of Special Victims investigators, Narcotics and Vice crimes specialists, Mental Health practitioners, and victim advocates.
The trafficking epidemic is a serious threat to our community that stretches far beyond our area. This unit will focus on dismantling the networks that exploit children, often through addiction and criminal behavior.
I will collaborate closely with lawmakers to enhance our law enforcement capabilities, ensuring we have the tools to effectively protect our children.
Additionally, I will prioritize the safety of children waiting at school bus stops. Most all of these locations are poorly lit, exposed to traffic, and lack proper shelter.
I will commission a comprehensive threat assessment for all school bus stops in Lee County, working with the School District to implement necessary improvements.
Together with the County Commissioners, we will construct covered areas with benches, bright signage, and adequate lighting to ensure children are safe and comfortable while waiting for transportation.
Finally, the School Resource Officer Unit (SRO) Unit will never want for equipment, training, or technology; they will be well-funded and well-trained. Our detectives who investigate crime within the schools will be empowered to use the most advanced techniques available to keep our schools safe – I refuse to accept any oversight that allows individuals with a history of concerning behavior to freely access our schools.
Protecting our children will always be a non-negotiable priority.
- Attack human trafficking
- Fortify school bus stops
- Fund the SRO Unit
The mission of safety and security within a community is multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary.
While law enforcement plays a leading role, it cannot accomplish this mission alone. Law Enforcement Officers are often called upon to handle situations on which they have no training, no experience, and no resources to offer, however there is often a better and more effective solution.
The front-line workers of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office via 911 and non-emergency phone numbers are often utilized as a one-stop-shop by members of the public who don’t know how to navigate government; under my leadership, deputies will know who to call, which agency belongs handling situations, and how to be best supportive in any situation.
Public entities like the Department of Children and Families, Homeless Outreach and Treatment (HOT) Teams, and Animal Control, alongside Non- Government Organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Mobile Crisis Units, and the United Way, are vital resources that must be effectively utilized.
From missing persons cases and traffic enforcement to multi-jurisdictional manhunts and major criminal investigations, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office WILL promise to be accessible, communicative, and transparent to the community and all stakeholders who support the mission of keeping our community safe.
- Cohesive approach
- Transparency & communication
