Keep Policing Local

As a resident of Marco Island for 30 years, I was deeply disappointed to learn that the City Council voted to take the first step toward disbanding the Marco Island Police Department and outsourcing our city’s law enforcement to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. A police department that has helped make Marco Island one of the safest communities in Florida should never have been considered for elimination.

Over the years, I have seen firsthand the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of the Marco Island Police Department. They know our neighborhoods, our beaches, our businesses, and the people who call this island home. They are part of our community, not just assigned to it.

They also build relationships in our schools, where students, teachers, and parents know and trust the officers who help keep them safe.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has an important job protecting the entire county, but that is exactly why I believe Marco Island would no longer be the priority it is today. Our island deserves a police department whose only mission is protecting this community. That local focus and accountability cannot be replaced.

I understand the desire to save taxpayer dollars, but public safety should never be treated as an experiment. We already have a police department with a proven record of keeping Marco Island one of the safest communities in Florida. There is no reason to replace something that is already working.

I urge the City Council to reconsider this proposal and keep the Marco Island Police Department. Keep policing local. Keep Marco Island safe.