FRONT PORCH

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 12, 2024) – Thanks to a partnership with Neal Communities, the Lee County Sheriff’s office conducted training in August on land that Neal Communities purchased for future development.

The site itself contains a now-closed restaurant and some trailers. Instead of just demolishing the structures during development, Neal Communities allowed the local sheriff’s office to conduct training for a more real-world scenario.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) utilized this site for various training purposes. The Patrol Unit had the opportunity to do immersive reality-based training. This training includes discretionary use of force, practical legal applications, building clearing, and teamwork, according to Julie Martin, public affairs officer for the LCSO. The LCSO Special Operations Unit also used the property for large-scale scenario training involving multiple armed suspects, rural tactical approaches, and building clearing.

The LCSO K9 Unit trained multiple times in the buildings, doing apprehension work with the patrol dogs and distance tracking with the bloodhounds. SWAT and bomb squads also conducted training exercises at the site.

Team members from Neal Communities were also invited to participate in the training. Employee participants included Eric Bissler, Ben Gibbs, and Carl Thrushman.

Bissler said of the experience, “It was unique to say the least. No coffee needed when your day starts off having a K-9 trying to pull you to the ground. The LCSO team members were great with explaining and demonstrating some of their training techniques, they even had us run some of these drills.”

“We are extremely grateful to Neal Communities for their support in allowing the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to utilize their property for training purposes,” says Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “This unique opportunity, allowed for training that cannot be done in a classroom setting or normal range. Locations like this are one-of-a-kind and allow for an immersive deputy experience. This is crucial to the success of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and keeping our community safe. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Neal Communities.”