Campus Police

FSW Campus Police 8099 College Parkway, Building D Fort Myers, FL 33909

03/04/24

Contact: Sgt. Tim Edeling Accreditation Manager 239/489-9203 x 16671

For Immediate Release

ACCREDITATION TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT FSW CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Fort Myers, FL: A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive April 23, 2024 to examine all aspects of the FSW Campus Police policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The FSW Campus Police Department has to comply with numerous standards in order to receive accredited status. Many of the standards are critical to life, health, safety issues, and best practices.

As part of the assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards manual is available on the CFA website at www.flaccreditation.org under the standards tab.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the (agency’s) ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please send correspondence to: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302, or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us.

The accreditation program manager for the department is Sgt. Timothy Edeling. He said the assessment team is composed of assessors from similar agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other areas where compliance can be observed. The assessment will conclude on April 25, 2024.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report to the full Commission, which then determines if the agency is to receive accredited or reaccredited status. The FSW Campus Police Department’s accreditation is valid for three years. Verification by the team that FSW Campus Police meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation--a highly prized recognition of professional excellence, Chief Jerry Connolly said.

Crime Doesn't Pay … But Crime Stoppers Does! If you See Something, Say Something. SWFL CRIME STOPPERS Hotline: 1-800-780-TIPS

The Department of Campus Police is committed to providing a safe, secure, and orderly environment in which learning, working, and administrative operations of the College have the opportunity to excel. The safety of our campuses is a cooperative effort of students, faculty, staff and visitors and all of us must assume responsibility for our own personal safety as well as the protection of our personal and college property.

The Department, with the main office on the Lee Campus, is comprised of both sworn and non-sworn campus police personnel. The Director, sergeants on the Charlotte, Collier and Lee campus and police officers on the Lee campus are sworn law enforcement officers as required by Florida statute. The Collier and Charlotte campuses are also staffed with licensed, uniformed DSI Security Services officers who patrol the campus facilities twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year. Each campus has a campus police office.

Access is provided to campus facilities during normal operating hours. Prior arrangements should be made in writing to the Campus Police office for admittance to campus buildings after hours. Florida SouthWestern State College has residential housing for students in LightHouse Commons, a 405 bed facility on the Lee campus.

HURRICANE SEASON RUNS FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH.

As we begin this potentially tumultuous time of year, FSW wants you to be aware and prepared.

FSW has procedures in place to keep its campus community safe. Depending on the anticipated severity of a storm, the college may be required to evacuate its campuses for a hurricane. While this is not a common occurrence, it is imperative that students and employees develop a personal evacuation plan now and be ready to implement that plan if a storm threatens the area. Once an evacuation is ordered, all events and classes will be canceled.

Staying Informed

When a Tropical Storm or Hurricane threatens one of our campuses, FSW will alert our students and employees through local news media sources, the college’s Facebook, Twitter and FSW homepage as well as utilize the Emergency Notification System, which includes telephone messages, texts, and email notifications. The contact information used for this system is generated by the information you have provided to the college. It is recommended though, that everyone take a moment to review and update your Personal Emergency Contact Information (PDF) on your FSW Portal Account.

FSW has a Public Health Resources web page that shares various national and community hyperlinks pertaining to your overall health and safety. Two of those links lead to more detailed information about hurricane preparedness and response. The link that takes you to the National Weather Service page has important videos to help you prepare for a hurricane.

Simple Ways To Stay Informed

  • Check your FSW email regularly.
  • Make sure your information is up-to-date with FSW to receive alerts.
  • Follow FSW on Facebook @FSWCOLLEGE.
  • Follow the National Hurricane Center on Facebook & Twitter @NWSNHC or @NHC_ATLANTIC.

The Campus Campus Police web page has other “Quick Links” that contain other helpful information like: an All Hazards Guide, Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide and other various links to weather and storm tracking sites. Any decision to close campuses and/or cancel classes will be made in a timely manner by the Emergency Management Team receiving regular updates from FSW Campus Police as they monitor storm activity.

Lighthouse Commons Residents

In the event that a hurricane may impact our immediate area, resident students will be notified to vacate the campus and those without a place to go will be asked to stay at a nearby shelter. Resident students living at Light House Commons are encouraged to review their Housing Residential Living Guide found on the Housing webpage.

Please review this important information to become as aware and prepared as possible for the upcoming season!

Email: FSW Campus Police

Contact Us

Phone: 239-489-9203

Hours of Operation 24 hours a day / 7 days a week Except Hendry-Glades

Lee Campus 8099 College Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33919

Building D, Room 101

Collier Campus 7505 Grand Lely Drive Naples, Florida 34113

Building A, Room 100

Charlotte Campus 26300 Airport Road Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

Building N, Room 105

Hendry Glades 1092 E. Cowboy Way LaBelle, FL 33935

Building A, Room 118