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Police & Fire


Letters: Communications group Auxcomm appreciates Beacon support

March 14, 2024
To the Editor:  Thank you for the standby Emergency Operations Center announcement coverage in this week’s Beacon. The emphasis in bold you added in the highlights & system overview se…

Emergency Operations Center presentation 

March 14, 2024
The public is invited to a March 21 presentation on the design for the planned Standby Emergency Operations Center, part of the Auxiliary Emergency Communications backup emergency system for Gaspa…

Family celebrates St. Patrick’s day rescue with EMS

March 14, 2024
BY MELISSA CSANK St. Patrick’s Day has a special significance for my family. Ten years ago, on that day, my family experienced a life-altering event at the Boca Grande Club. My father, heading …

Island Emergency Operations Center design unveiled March 5

March 7, 2024
BY G.B. (BO) HAMRICKPROJECT COORDINATOR The Boca Grande Fire Department’s Emergency Communications and Interoperability Working Group has completed the new Island (standby) Emergency Operations…

Watch Lee County deputies each week on ‘On Patrol Live’

March 7, 2024
Lee County is one of the many jurisdictions from across the U.S. on the weekend television program “On Patrol Live”, on the Reelz cable channel on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. EST. The Dan A…

Island deputies now wearing bodycams

March 7, 2024
Sheriff’s office had held off on adopting Motorola recorders As a result of a county-wide purchase of bodycams from Motorola, Lee County deputies on Gasparilla Island are now wearing body cams….

Island emergency leads meet for Auxcomm introduction

February 29, 2024
The steering committee for Gasparilla Island’s new Auxiliary Emergency Communications system met Monday morning at the Boca Grande Fire Department to hear a presentation about the new system’s cap…

Cause of Little Gasparilla fire still undetermined

February 22, 2024
The cause of a Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 house fire on Little Gasparilla Island cannot be determined due to the nature and temperature of the fire, and the speed with which crews could get there to pu…

Islanders need a lift in recent elevator entrapments

February 15, 2024
Last Saturday Feb. 10, there was an elevator entrapment on island. The Boca Grande Fire Department quickly rescued stuck passengers from a third-floor elevator at 5091 Gasparilla Road after a 911 …

Welcoming Lt. Mike Sawicki to Boca Grande

January 11, 2024
Lieutenant Mike Sawicki was not looking to change jobs when Capt. Jeff Corkhill told him about an opening for his position in Boca Grande. Mike (he is cool with being called “Mike” without the for…