Lee County Sheriff’s Office targets Fort Myers Beach with second operation in two weeks
For the second time in as many weeks, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office targeted Fort Myers Beach with a traffic enforcement operation and expanded presence on the beach. Sheriff’s Office motorcycles went up and down San Carlos Boulevard and Estero Boulevard during the day, with deputies buzzing on vehicles along the beach sand this past Thursday.
Throughout the day, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office made 52 traffic stops, issued 39 citations and 20 warnings, with one notice to appear, as part of a crackdown on motorists which the department publicized with a video on Facebook.
Like the first one on June 1, this operation came with a slickly-produced video for Facebook.
This time the Facebook post had a different message.
“Fort Myers Beach was today’s target. The Wolfpack was hungry… and the numbers speak for themselves,” the post said.
Questions sent to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and his communications team regarding the meaning of the message and why Fort Myers Beach was targeted were not responded to.
The video, which received 176,000 views, was made featuring the song “Black and Yellow” by the rapper Wiz Khalifa in the background. The video shows the department stopping vehicles on Fort Myers Beach on Crescent Street and Estero Boulevard. During one stop, a deputy said they stopped somebody driving without a license.
In another short video titled “Keeping FMB takeover-free ALL summer long” the department shows deputies on vehicles going up and down the beach sand, through Times Square, and out to areas of the beach sand where they deploy watch towers.
Marceno and his communications team did not respond to any questions regarding the operation and Facebook video. Lee County Sheriff’s Office Commander Anita Iriarte said questions regarding the nature of the traffic violations would be handled as a public records request. Tat has not yet been fulfilled.
Among the questions the department did not respond to, was the meaning and intention of the department’s message on Facebook which said Fort Myers Beach was targeted and “the Wolfpack was hungry…”
It’s not clear what the reference to “Wolfpack” means and the department’s spokespersons did not respond to questions as to what the reference means or if it’s an internal nickname for deputies. The term Wolfpack has been used as a nickname for the athletic teams of the University of Nevada and North Carolina State, and is also known in military history for German submarine teams which attacked American ships during World War II.
The department also did not respond to questions regarding the use of the song “Black and Yellow,” by Wiz Khalifa. The rapper, who is known for his promotion of drug use, uses profane language in the song including the use of the n-word and the use of a misogynistic term though those words are not heard during the Facebook video. The song lyrics also speak about “my engine roarin'” and “I got the pedal to the metal,” which contrasts with the Lee County Sheriff’s operation which cracked down on traffic violations.
In the Facebook post for the video, the department referenced speeding, illegal tint, rolling through stop signs and driving without a license.
Marceno did not respond to questions about whether he was aware of the use of the song, the contents of the lyrics in the song, who chose the song, what resources the department used to produce the video, or if the department had permission to use the song.
Comments were restricted for the post.
The shorter video with the words “Keeping FMB takeover-free ALL summer long” features the more positive upbeat “Celebration” classic by Kool & the Gang.
During a previous operation on June 1, the department sent a large number of deputies onto the island in a mission the office said was tied to reports that there may be a large turnout of young people for the day. That day was the last day of classes for the School District of Lee County. The department said on June 1 they were targeting underage drinking, alcohol violations, speeding, texting and driving, and illegal window tint. One video showed a deputy pouring the contents of an alcoholic drink onto the street after a traffic stop.
The department also said that day they were being proactive after a shooting at Clearwater Beach days earlier. The department also warned that such enforcement activities could continue.
That operation received praise from Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay and Mayor Dan Allers.
Allers on Tuesday said he received a heads up of the new Lee County Sheriff’s Office operation that occurred on June 11. However, the town never posted any public notice of the expanded operation.
“I was made aware the morning of June 11 that there would be an increased presence from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Fort Myers Beach,” Allers said.
“The Town did not issue a separate notice regarding the increased law enforcement presence. The Town does not control the announcements or public communications of other agencies such as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. If there is ever a public safety issue that residents need to be aware of, we will certainly communicate that information as quickly as possible.”
It is not clear why the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has chosen to conduct the highly-publicized operations in the month of June, which is typically one of the slower months of the year on Fort Myers Beach. There have been no obvious signs of increased crime on the beach. The department did not address whether there were any increased safety issues or whether crime had increased on Fort Myers Beach that warranted the response. The town has not had a major incident on the beach sand since a shooting on Memorial Day in 2021.
“The Sheriff’s Office has always taken a proactive approach to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors, and I wholeheartedly support that philosophy,” Allers said. “Public safety remains one of the most important services provided to our community, and I appreciate the efforts of LCSO to maintain a visible presence and address potential concerns before they become larger issues.”
Regarding the Facebook post the department made on June 11, Allers said “I believe it was intended to inform the public about their efforts and reinforce their commitment to keeping our community safe.”
The heavy presence on both June 1 and June 11 included deputies on beach vehicles going across the beach sand. The department did not answer questions regarding any precautions deputies are making in their beach patrolling activities for shorebird nesting season, which runs through Aug. 31.
Allers said the “feedback I have received from both residents and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. Many people have expressed appreciation for the added level of safety and the increased law enforcement presence, particularly during a busy time on the island.”
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said she has not received any comments about the operations.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office operates a community outreach center across from the Margaritaville Beach Resort and has had an outreach center on property owned by the resort’s ownership for the last several years. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with LCSO and appreciate the work they do every day to help keep Fort Myers Beach safe,” Allers said.
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com