Strengthen MIPD

The majority of the Marco Island City Council continues to fail to listen to residents, instead wasting city staff time and energy on cost estimates for CCSO. Across the island, one sentiment rings true: more enforcement and accountability. Interim Chief Belardo continues to provide data, statistics, and transparency to the community while moving forward with enhanced enforcement. His commitment to seeing the department improve is evidence that under new leadership, our department can, and will, be stronger and make our community safer. The MIPD collectively is listening and acting upon citizen concerns, as communicated to the public recently through their social media accounts. As a citizen of Marco Island, I would rather pay a little more in taxes to continue to maintain, train, and grow our MIPD. Their presence in and around our community, on and off duty, demonstrate their commitment to Marco Island and heart for keeping us the tight-knit community we are. I would caution councilors to tread carefully, as citizens like myself will not be casting votes for any councilors who do not redirect staff to instead look for ways in which we can make MIPD stronger and better equipped — not replaced! Thank you to Councilors Palumbo and Henry for listening to the citizens and standing in firm support of MIPD. I hope to see other councilors join in their stance as well. Through enforcement and accountability we will be able to resolve many of the concerns we have on Marco Island.