FMPD Roll Call
The Fort Myers Police Department is taking listeners behind the scenes of the agency. Each episode will highlight department initiatives, community partnerships, and the people working to keep our city safe.
FMPD Roll Call
How A Community 5K Honors Fallen Officers And Brings A City Together
Cops and Joggers turns a night run into a community tradition with heart. We shine a light on what makes this 5K special: a fast, scenic route, an atmosphere for families, and a mission that delivers real help where it matters.
Joined by Officer Hughes and Captain Valdivia, we unpack the race’s purpose and impact. Proceeds support the Fort Myers Police Department’s Fallen Officer Memorial Foundation, funding travel for families to National Police Week in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., and aiding like‑minded organizations that serve first responders. We dig into why the event moved to January to avoid hurricane season, how the cooler evening setting boosts the experience, and what first‑timers should know about packet pickup, parking garages, and arriving early to enjoy the pre‑race fun.
Expect more than miles. We tease possible post‑race entertainment, highlight age‑group trophies and crowd‑pleasing light‑up medals, and make the case for walkers and families to join. Most of all, we share how the night creates space to honor fallen officers, tell their stories, and build genuine connections between the department and the community it serves.
Ready to run, walk, or cheer? Subscribe for more community spotlights, share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge to register, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. We’ll see you at the starting line.
Welcome back to FMPD Roll Call and Public Information Officer Megan Fuente. Today we're spotlighting one of our department's signature community events, the annual Cops and Joggers 5K Run and Walk, taking place at night in downtown Fort Myers. This event has become a downtown tradition, bringing together runners, walkers, families, and law enforcement for nearly two decades. To help break down what's new this year and what participants can expect, I'm joined by Officer Hughes, the coordinator behind the event and Captain Valdivia, who works closely with the Fort Myers Police Department's Fallen Officer Memorial Foundation. Roll call begins now. Thank you both for joining me. I really appreciate you guys coming here today, especially to talk about Cops and Joggers, which is coming up in a little less than a month.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So, Officer Hughes, let's start with you. For anyone who's never taken part in Cops and Joggers, can you give us like an overview of what the Cops and Joggers is about, what it looks like?
SPEAKER_01:Sure, this is truly a family fun event, not just for runners or walkers. We'll have bounce houses, food trucks, SWAT team, music for all involved, and there'll be a race over the Edison Bridge in downtown Fort Myers. It's lit up by cop cars, and it's a great experience for everyone to hang out.
SPEAKER_02:Can you tell me a little bit about the history? Because I know obviously this is what, the 18th annual?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so it is our 18th annual, cops and joggers. A little bit of the history of it is it was basically it was meant to be a fundraiser for the foundation, the Fawn Officers Foundation. And what we do with that funding is we assist families of the Fawn Officers to travel to either Tallahassee or Washington, D.C. during National Police Week. And we cover all their expenses and it gives them an opportunity to go visit the monuments for the fawn officers, and it doesn't, they don't have to incur any expenses from it. So it's a lot of the funding is used for for that. And we also help or assist other like-minded organizations that help with first responders and their families, such as the Brotherhood Ride Code 3 Retreat, is another one. So we we try to use the funding again for like-minded organizations as well.
SPEAKER_01:So why or run?
SPEAKER_00:Wire run. Mary Ellen.
SPEAKER_01:Everyone likes to run from the police. I mean you're not wrong. As our logo says, um, it's a great opportunity for exercise, but also fun. It's something different. We do it at night. First couple years we did it during the morning, and then we decided to do it at night to make it truly a family fun event. And like I said, it's not just the run, we have other aspects of it that allow police and children to interact.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and actually, when when we first started doing it, the we weren't doing it at night, like she said. And then I I don't know, one one of the board members, committee members, somebody had said, Hey, why don't we do this at night? We could line up the streets with you know with with cop cars and and make it really cool looking, and it just took off from there. So races weren't being done at night, so it was very unique, and it's just caught on and people like it.
SPEAKER_02:So and I think every year it's been getting bigger and bigger. It's what it seems like. So, what is new this year?
SPEAKER_00:New. Can we talk about new? So, new is where we're trying to add a little more just something a little bit different. We're possibly thinking of maybe bringing on some entertainment. So after the run is over, you'll be able to sit back, relax, and and hopefully enjoy some entertainment. To be determined. Started off with, you know, let's let's do uh a 5k. And it's again, it's just evolved from there. And it's almost a yearly thing. I know a lot of people they plan on it, they expect it. Uh it was done during a different time or a different month.
SPEAKER_01:During hurricane season, so unfortunately we had to move it so everyone was used to October, but we've changed it twice because of hurricanes, unfortunately. So now we're just gonna do January, start off the new year, new ideas, new things.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, the weather's better. Let's be honest. Except last year it was really cold. I'd rather run in cold. I don't know, some people could be different, but I'd rather run in the cold.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, obviously I don't run, so but yeah, I've I've heard, you know, mixed mixed feelings. You know, most people do like running it in in the cold weather or the colder weather, I should say. But you know, this is Florida, it all depends. One, it could be 60 degrees or it could be 80 degrees. So, but the main thing is we did change the month of when we do it. But again, you know, a lot of people they they plan on, you know, I'll be back next year. We do have a lot of repeat runners, they look forward to their to their t-shirt, yeah, you know, to their goodie bags and stuff like that. So we like doing it, you know, it it definitely is for a great cause. Again, it's it's strictly to help out those families, those fallen officers, and and and again, of the like-minded organizations. So we enjoy doing it and we'll just keep doing it until we can't do it no more.
SPEAKER_02:I also think it's a great way to kick start your New Year's resolution to have it like a little bit past the new year, and you really don't have an excuse. Sign up for Cops and Juggers. We got you. Pretty much, pretty much. So, what would you say to encourage people who still have not done the race or just a little encouragement to maybe sign up?
SPEAKER_01:Come give it a try. It's really like you can't say enough. A family fun event. It's something unique. You'll s the roads will be lit up with police lights, there'll be music, food, bounce houses for the kids. We have raffles, so make sure you come early to buy some raffle tickets, some really good prizes, hotel stays, and different other places throughout the city, car washes. Just fun. What should people and participants know what to expect?
SPEAKER_02:Because obviously it's a night run. So if they've never did a night run or participated in a night run, what should they expect when they arrive?
SPEAKER_01:Arrive early. We'll have package pickup around 4 p.m. that's Saturday. Also on the Friday before the 9th, we have package pickup at Fleet Sheet from 12 to 6. And just come with some money, come with friends, with kids, and just have a great night. And you can sign up day of, right? Correct.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Parking and always, you know, anticipate parking. It is downtown. Parking is limited. Parking garages, you know, try to utilize the parking garages. And then it's also on a Saturday.
SPEAKER_01:Saturday, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So again, you know, the just aside from the typical downtown crowds, you know, this is going to be more of a burden for parking. So definitely try to come early, get you know, get your parking spot. Again, utilize there's the two parking garages downtown. There's obviously the street side parking, but just try to prepare for that.
SPEAKER_02:And obviously, it's more than just a race. We already talked about possible post-race entertainment.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_02:And obviously before the race, we have what the obstacle course with SWAT and what else do we have?
SPEAKER_01:The bounce houses, food trucks, ice cream truck, and games for the kids and just fun activities, music.
SPEAKER_02:Exactly. So it's a little bit more than just a 5k that we put on for people. So for sure. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So there's something for everybody for sure.
SPEAKER_01:There'll be raffles at the end. Oh, yeah, I forgot about the raffles. And you don't have to be present to win. As long as I can read your uh name and phone number, I'll call you with a prize. So make sure you write it legibly. Got it. Before we close out, any final thoughts? We look forward to seeing everyone there. Get excited every year. Love seeing it grow. I know. I'm excited to see what we have in store.
SPEAKER_00:Just as much as we are. So, yeah, so come on out. It's a good night. Like, like like Mary Ellen said, it's it's a good night for the family. It's it's just a good laid-back, chill community event.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Get the community together.
SPEAKER_00:Nice community event. The chief will be there. You know, obviously a lot of staff will be there as well. It's a big, it's a big deal for us, right? We get a chance to honor our fawn officers and it gives us a chance to tell their stories. Uh, you know, a lot of times people will come up and they'll ask you, you know, about them and and you know what had happened and all that other stuff. So it's a good time for everybody, and it's it's it's a good opportunity for the PD to meet the uh the community and and everybody that comes out. So good times, good times.
SPEAKER_02:Perfect. Yeah. Well, I can't wait. I know I'll be working it, but I wish I could run it. Maybe next year. Yeah, maybe next year. Or if you can walk in with walkers, yes, walkers can do it.
SPEAKER_00:We have a lot of walkers.
SPEAKER_02:We have walkers, yeah. I'll be walking nine months pregnant. I'm not sure if we're gonna do at that point. I'll be in a golf cart. Okay, we'll be all right here. Well, thank you both for joining me. I can't wait for Cops and Joggers. I know there's a lot of runners who are expecting it. Also, there are awards, right? Because I know we didn't talk about that. So we talked about the package to pickup. Tell me about the awards that we have.
SPEAKER_01:We have trophies for the winner for each age group, and then we also the second third of prizes get medals that light up. Okay.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I can't wait. Thank you both for joining me. The Cops and Joggers 5K is a great opportunity to get active, support a meaningful cause, and take part in a night run that brings our community together. We hope to see a strong turnout this year, whether you're running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines. Thank you for listening. I'm Public Information Officer Megan Fuentes, and we'll see you at the starting line.