Cape CopCast

Cape Coral Police Department
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Government
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Welcome to the "Cape CopCast," the official podcast of the Cape Coral Police Department. Hosted by Officer Steven Klakowicz, and Lisa Greenberg from our Public Affairs team, this podcast dives into the heart of Cape Coral PD's public safety, community initiatives, and the inner workings of our police department. Each episode brings you insightful discussions, interviews with key community figures, and expert advice on safety. 

  1. 21h ago

    Chief's Chat #51: Cape Coral named Florida's Second Safest City

    A lot of ground is covered in this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat.' First, hosts Lisa Greenberg and Officer Steven Klakowicz sit down with Chief Anthony Sizemore about the recent arrest in a road rage shooting. We walk through what happened, what charges the suspect now faces, and the work behind the scenes to make it happen. We pull back the curtain on how the Cape Coral Police Department works a crime like this from start to finish: the handoff from patrol to detectives, the value of forensic evidence, and why early coordination with the State Attorney’s Office strengthens prosecutions. We also explain how the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force helps when a wanted suspect tries to dodge capture. We also celebrate some well-earned good news: Cape Coral is again ranked the second safest city in Florida and hovers near the top nationally, even as our city grows fast and workload rises. We get specific about what sustains public safety over time: modern police training, the right equipment, competitive recruiting and retention, and a culture of continual improvement across every unit. Then we share a proud moment of partnership as we assist the U.S. Secret Service and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office during a presidential visit, including SWAT support, drone operations, and motorcade security. New Outro

  2. Oct 19

    The Reality of Police Defensive Tactics with Detective Lucas Smoker and Jay Wadsworth

    In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we sit down with Detective Lucas Smoker, Cape Coral Police Department's Defensive Tactics Lead Instructor, and Jay Wadsworth of Effective Fitness Combatives to talk about what officers actually use most on the street and why so many agencies still under-train it. We dig into what a modern defensive tactics program should borrow from proven combatives: wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and carefully chosen striking that fits policing realities. An officer’s most frequently used tools aren’t necessarily the tools on their duty belt—they’re their hands, their voice, and their ability to use their body safely and effectively. Officers regularly use hands-on techniques to guide, assist, separate, or control someone, and those interactions don’t automatically mean a physical fight is taking place. We also talk about "training to be boring." When control is deliberate and coordinated, video looks calm, injuries drop, and situations are less likely to spiral into chaos or higher levels of force. You’ll hear how the Cape Coral Police Department builds consistency through quarterly in-service training, a dedicated mat room at our Training Center, and open mat opportunities, plus how body-worn camera footage helps instructors update curriculum based on what’s happening right now. We also talk about transparency and social media, and why departments should share more examples of effective control, not just the rare headline events. New Outro

  3. Oct 9

    Chief's Chat #50: The Power of Connection, From Pink Badges to Retail Theft

    A pink badge can do more than show support, it can change the next few seconds of a high-stress call. In this episode of Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we sit down with Cape Coral Police Chief Sizemore to talk about why officers wear pink badges during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, how those badges support Susan G. Komen, and why this symbol hits home for so many families impacted by cancer. Then we get into the street-level psychology: de-escalation often starts with a tiny opening. We unpack how officers build rapport, and how familiar cues like appearance, shared background, or a simple badge can create a brief pause that helps people listen, breathe, and reset. That same idea connects to a bigger theme: dehumanization. From online pile-ons to polarized conflict, things get dangerous when people stop seeing each other as human, and we talk about what it takes to reverse that in real time. We wrap with a conversation about retail theft, and the quarterly meetings we hold with retail partners and law enforcement to track trends, reduce organized retail crime, and hold offenders accountable, because “minor” theft is not victimless, it drives up prices and drains resources from emergency calls.  New Outro

  4. Sep 25

    Chief’s Chat #49: The Conversation Every Parent Should Have With Their Kids & Honoring Forensics and Crime Analysts

    You can have the best tools in the world and still miss the truth if you don’t have the right people using them the right way. In this episode of Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we talk through what Forensics Week really means at the Cape Coral Police Department, and why forensic specialists are often the difference between a suspicion and a conviction. From lifting fingerprints in unlikely places to handling biological evidence, duct tape, and digital forensics, we break down how real investigations get built and why meticulous evidence handling and court prep matter as much as the science itself. We also dig into the less visible side of public safety that’s changing fast: crime analysts and real-time intelligence in honor of Crime National Crime and Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day. We explain how GIS mapping, CAD and RMS data, and live call monitoring help officers respond smarter in the moment, not hours later. The theme is consistent across the lab and the analytics unit: accredited standards, best practices, and trained professionals who can turn complex data into clear facts a jury can understand. Then the conversation takes a turn into parenting, prompted by a real situation involving a teen and a marijuana vape. We share a practical, plain-language warning about how kids access drugs through social media, why “you don’t know what’s in it” is more than a slogan, and how counterfeit pills can be laced with fentanyl. The takeaway is a simple family rule: if you need help, call us, and never take medication from friends unless it comes from a doctor in a bottle with your name on it. New Outro

  5. Sep 21

    A Fly-Along With Aviation Officer Charles Proudfit

    You can read headlines about a “police chopper,” but you don’t really understand the job until you hear it from the air. In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we strapped in for a fly-along over Cape Coral with Aviation Officer Charles Proudfit to talk through what actually happens during a real patrol flight, with the helicopter noise and all. Cape Coral is massive, and from 500 feet up you see why aviation support matters for public safety. We get into the day-to-day reality: early pre-flight inspections, checking aircraft status, scanning calls, deciding when to self-launch, and how a helicopter can cover ground that would take a whole perimeter of officers on foot. We also break down the most common call types they respond to, including missing person searches and burglary suspects, and why calling air support sooner can change the outcome. Then we go deep on the tools and tactics: FLIR infrared cameras, night vision goggles, and how heat signatures work. We compare helicopters to drones for search operations. We also talk about how the Lee County Sheriff’s Office partnership helps make our aviation program possible, and introduce you to Officer Proudfit's Tactical Flight Officer, Deputy Andujar. You’ll hear what hurricane response looked like from the cockpit, plus the basics of altitude and speed. New Outro

  6. Sep 2

    Chief's Chat #48: Why Chief Sizemore is Discontinuing the Use of ALPR Technology

    Chief Anthony Sizemore is using this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat' to explain his recent decision to discontinue automated license plate reader (ALPR) use (for now), even after years of responsible operation and real investigative wins. We lay out what this decision is not: it’s not a rejection of ALPR technology. We explain, in plain language, what an ALPR actually captures, why searches must connect to specific cases, and how data retention becomes one of the biggest questions the public deserves clear answers on. When rumors and politics turn the volume up, long-form conversation is the best way to replace heat with facts. We also share why statewide standardization matters for Florida law enforcement. When retention schedules, training expectations, audits, and penalties vary from city to city, the public can lose confidence in the whole system. And when one agency misuses a tool, it doesn’t stay there. We talk through cases where ALPR helped generate key leads, from high-profile investigations to everyday theft and hit-and-run reports, and why public trust is the foundation that makes any of that possible. New Outro

  7. Aug 21

    Chief's Chat #47: The Story Behind the Awards

    In this episode of the Cape CopCast 'Chief's Chat,' we talk to Chief Sizemore about a topic we love sharing but rarely explain fully: our awards process. We break down how nominations actually happen, why most recognition starts with peers and frontline supervisors, and how our culture has evolved from big ceremonies to a more personal monthly format where families can be part of the moment.  We start the podcast by talking about Primary Election week and what it looks like on the ground, why the constant flood of political texts feels so ineffective, and what our role actually is on voting day: keep people safe and let the process work. We also explain why we stay professionally apolitical on purpose, and why that boundary protects public trust no matter who is in charge locally, statewide, or nationally. We also highlight recent life saving awards involving overdose response, suicide intervention, and a 10 month old who nearly drowned, plus a newer tactical de-escalation award that reflects modern policing and the work it takes to avoid a deadly outcome. We wrap with the part people forget: even successful rescues can be traumatic, so we talk about debriefing, decompression, and getting support after hard calls. New Outro

  8. Aug 7

    Chief's Chat #46: Community Policing and De-escalation in Action

    A “safe public meetup” at a local restaurant still turned into a violent robbery, and the way it got solved says a lot about what community policing really means. Public Affairs Officer Lisa Greenberg and our new co-host, Officer Steven Klakowicz, asit down with Chief Anthony Sizemore to dig into how patrol officers working the same neighborhood every day build the kind of situational awareness that helps identify suspects fast, protect victims, and keep cases solid from the start.   We break down the Facebook Marketplace setup, what robbery by sudden snatching looks like in real life, and why quick witness details matter. The Chief also explains constitutional policing in plain language, including how a Fourth Amendment “show-up” works. If you’ve ever wondered how police balance speed with civil rights, this conversation gives you the framework.   Then we shift to a call that never made the news: multiple 911 reports of a man in a mental health crisis standing on a fourth-floor balcony with an AR-15 style rifle. We talk through modern police training since Columbine, de-escalation tactics, evacuations, shields, and how drones and a real-time crime center provide intelligence without forcing a dangerous confrontation.  New Outro

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to the "Cape CopCast," the official podcast of the Cape Coral Police Department. Hosted by Officer Steven Klakowicz, and Lisa Greenberg from our Public Affairs team, this podcast dives into the heart of Cape Coral PD's public safety, community initiatives, and the inner workings of our police department. Each episode brings you insightful discussions, interviews with key community figures, and expert advice on safety. 

Information

  • Creator
    Cape Coral Police Department
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cape CopCast
  • Show Website
    Cape CopCast

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