Sydney Persing

A board of private citizens has decided not to review an internal affairs investigation of a Fort Myers Police Department command staff member. “Our role is to investigate the citizens’ complaints.” Instead, the Board voted to recommend Fort Myers City Council order an independent investigation into Major William Newhouse. The Citizens Police Review Board heard […]

International travelers are hoping to board airplanes and finally fly back to the United States now that a federal travel ban is lifted for 33 countries. Southwest Florida is a converted destination for many travelers. So, WINK News went to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) to talk to some of those traveling. Three flights from […]

Fort Myers City Manager Marty Lawing could make a decision as early as Friday about whether to have an independent investigation into allegations of corruption made against a since-departed police official. WINK News asked Lawing but he has not responded with his decision. Regardless, an investigation is likely as at least four city councilmembers favor […]

A high-ranking police official at the center of accusations at the Fort Myers Police Department has retired. Major William Newhouse retired on Thursday, according to Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny Streets. Streets said he was informed by City Manager Marty Lawing of the decision. The Fort Myers Police Department released Newhouse’s retirement memo on Thursday […]

A Fort Myers City Councilman wants to reject the resignation of the police department’s inspector general, whose last day on the job was Friday due to what he called “unethical” actions by the command staff. Instead, Ward 4 Councilman Liston Bochette wants Donald Oswald to be hired by the city manager to continue his work […]

An internal affairs investigation into allegations that a Fort Myers police official wanted to hide the cost of a new police station has cleared the police official from wrongdoing after he was accused of ordering a subordinate to mislead city officials. The 108-page internal affairs investigation into Major William Newhouse shows that every member of […]

The City of Fort Myers is looking for ways to handle accusations of police misleading city leaders, taxpayers and covering it up. The Fort Myers inspector general said those at the top of the police force, including the chief, are at the root of the problem. He resigned after making the accusations against the department. […]

One of the highest-ranking officials in the Fort Myers Police Department quit his job. Now, he’s blaming Chief Diggs and questioning the department’s ethics. The Fort Myers Police Department Inspector general turned in his resignation which took effect at 5 p.m. on Friday. In his letter of resignation, the man, Donald Oswald, says Fort Myers […]

A supply chain mess is impacting those who need meals the most. Food banks are scrambling to fill the shelves to feed those in need in our community. The images of lines wrapped around food banks as COVID-19 began to hit communities hard to forget. Many parents couldn’t feed their kids, and there was fear […]

Southwest Florida will soon welcome back international visitors. The United States is lifting all travel bans on foreign visitors from 33 countries on November, 8 which is great news for tourism. People looking to enter the country will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof. That is going to be handled by the […]