Chief's Chat #23: Building a Safer Cape Coral: Crime Stats & Accreditation Success

Crime is down 28% in Cape Coral, and in this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we're breaking down exactly how it happened. Despite our growing population and increasing calls for service, we've achieved remarkable reductions across both violent and property crime categories while maintaining solvability rates well above national averages.What's our secret? Chief Anthony Sizemore says it's right there in our mission statement: "Partnering with the community to ensure the highest level of safety for all." This isn't just aspirational language—it's a practical approach that yields measurable results. When community members lock their doors, report suspicious activity, and maintain open lines of communication with officers, we create a foundation for success. Combine that with strategic deployment, advanced technology, and dedicated personnel who genuinely care about this city, and you've got a winning formula.We're particularly proud of our recent CALEA assessment—the gold standard in law enforcement accreditation that we've maintained since 1989. Assessors came to the department and conducted an exhaustive evaluation of our policies, procedures, and practices, from use of force guidelines to hiring practices that reflect our community's diversity. The result? The most successful evaluation in our department's history, with assessors recommending us as a national model in several areas. This recognition validates the significant innovations we've implemented over the past five years and confirms we're not just meeting standards—we're setting them.Looking ahead, we're expanding our ranks to keep pace with Cape Coral's growth, creating promotional opportunities from top to bottom within our organization. This combination of proven success, external validation, and internal development has created tremendous momentum. Have questions about our approach to community safety? Reach out—partnership is what makes this work, and we're just getting started.