Fort Myers police struggle with breaking the ‘code of silence’

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The fear of retaliation is a major reason why few witnesses are willing to come forward when a shooting takes place in Fort Myers, Fort Myers police said.

Police acknowledge getting residents to share information they know has been a major issue for years.

“What has to occur to have individuals to come forward and to do the right thing,” said former FMPD Chief Doug Baker in 2014, the night 5-year-old Andrew Faust was killed in a drive-by shooting. “What point? Does it take a 5-year-old kid? It shouldn’t.”

In the Faust case, a witness did come forward leading to two arrests, but those suspects were released soon after the witness recanted her statement. The Faust case remains unsolved to this day.

This week after another shooting in Fort Myers, two more young lives were lost and tips are once again scarce.

More than 24 hours after the shooting at Club Blu that left 18-year-old Ste’fan Strawder and 14-year-old Sean Archilles dead, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers said not a single tip had been received.

By Thursday, few tips had been sent in despite the $21,000 reward being offered by authorities.

“If we continue to stay silent, if we continue to do nothing, we’re telling, we’re sending signals out to our kids that you don’t fight for what’s important,” said Pastor Gregory Ford of First Assembly Cornerstone.

Ford also recognizes the fear of retaliation is the number one thing holding people back but he says police could be doing more to build a better relationship and stronger trust with the community.

“Until the community starts working a little better with us on this, which we’ve asked over and over, it’s probably not going to change a lot,” FMPD Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads said Wednesday, adding officials are doing everything they can to solve the crimes.

“I wouldn’t put it all on the community. Police need to do police work, okay. A lot of times the community’s job is not to go in and do undercover work for the police,” Ford said. “But at the same time, our people do need to if they see something, they need to make it known.”

On Thursday, Fort Myers police sent out a plea for any pictures or videos taken inside or outside of Club Blu the night of the shooting.

All tipsters call remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.