Professional Experience

Hired in 2019 as the Safety and Security Specialist at WINK News. FBI Special Agent 1996-2017 serving in Atlanta, New York, FBI HQ and Quantico, VA. Served in the Navy, both on active duty and the reserve, retiring as a Commander in 2011.

News Philosophy

Work to help the citizens of SWFL keep their family, home, cyber, and finances safe and secure.

Hobbies & Interests

Flying, fishing & luge.

Education

Masters in Homeland Security from American Military University, Bachelors in Communications from the University of Miami.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

The people, along with the weather, and no DC traffic!

Hometown

Poughkeepsie, NY.

Sanibel Police Department is prepared for VIP movement

There is VIP movement this weekend in place around Sanibel Island, which can mean flight restrictions and traffic backups. Last time there was VIP movement, Vice president Mike Pence was in town. These types of visits are routine to the small island, but it takes a lot of coordination and preparation to assure a safe […]

Diana Alvarez. (Credit: Alvarez family)

Three years since Diana’s disappearance

Three years ago today, was the start of a nightmare for the family of a little girl. Diana Alvarez vanished from her San Carlos Park home in the middle of the night. The only suspect in her disappearance is Jorge Guerrero. A grand jury indicted him with First Degree Murder. But search crews have never […]

Student shoots a weapon with guidance. (Credit: WINK News)

FBI Citizens Academy gives a glimpse into working for the agency

Do you have what it takes to be a federal agent? Well, if you do not, then you can still get a glimpse of what being in the Federal Bureau of Investigation is like. The FBI Citizens Academy met at the Port Authority Training Center to learn about the FBI specialty teams and spent time […]

How to monitor your kid’s devices and social media to keep them safe

Kids with electronics can be exposed to dangerous situations such as predators and drugs. So, we looked at ways to keep them safe. Behaviors on social media and smart phones include watching videos, playing games, interacting with friends and even strangers. And that opens the door to potential exploitation. “A genuinely good person doesn’t look […]

How to identify victims of human trafficking

Amid 10 men facing charges for human trafficking in Hernando County, Rich Kolko, safety and security specialist, looked at how our agencies across the state are able to respond to these types of crimes. There are also many resources available to help identify victims and efforts being made to catch those doing this. Watch video […]

How to stay safe when you travel abroad

Safety and security is a big concern for anyone traveling out of the country right now. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security suspended all flights to Venezuela because of an ongoing political crisis. And earlier this week, 21 students and staff from University of Florida were robbed at gunpoint in South Africa. The thieves took […]

How to protect from scammers stealing paychecks or social security

Most of us direct deposit our work or social security checks. But according to Collier County Sheriff’s Office, scammers have found a way to redirect people’s money to their own accounts. We looked at how to recognize if a personal account is being targeted. How it works: An email will get sent to someone that […]

How the Collier County Sheriff’s Office is keeping you safe on the water

With miles of coastline and water as far as the eye can see, how do local law enforcement agencies keep them secure? With a marine unit. Collier County Sheriff’s Office corporals Todd Byrns and Mike Craig take WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Kolko out on the water to show you how they’re keeping […]

War veteran uses technology to battle against predators and keep your kids safe

From rooting out the enemy overseas, to rooting them out back at home, there’s a new type of ‘hero’ in town working hard to keep kids safe from predators. After five tours serving in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Wooten’s military career as a sniper ended with a helicopter […]

Sight on the helicopter. (Credit: WINK News)

LCSO helicopter unit is ready for any emergency

When moments count, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office takes flight. A full-time helicopter unit is on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week. September 2014 was a tense moment for a mother. She called 911 after getting a call from her husband out on the water that his boat was going down. The helicopter […]