FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, WeatherContinuing Coverage: New Warrant Alert System
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Sometimes it takes tragedy to bring change. That's the case in the story of Fallen Fort Myers Police Officer Andrew Widman. He was shot and killed by Abel Arango - an illegal alien criminal who should not have been walking free. At the time of Officer Widman's murder, there was an arrest warrant out for Arango in Collier County. Arango was in a Lee County courtroom a month before - but the Lee court had no way of knowing about Collier warrant. So today, the Lee County Court system finalized one piece in the giant puzzle of fixing a broken system.
The Lee County 20th Judicial Circuit Court signed a contract for new technology that lets the courts track active arrest warrants from all over the country. So when any criminal defendant comes to court for arraignment or any pre-trial hearing, they'll go right back to the big house. Court officials hope to have the new system up and running by November. Fort Myers Interim Police Chief Doug Baker said it's a step in the right direction.
"I think it's a win-win all the way around for law enforcement and for the criminal justice process as a whole." Baker hopes this is one of many changes made across all agencies.
"I hope that this is one step into a number of directions that we take both on a local level, on a state level," and Bakers would like it eventually to reach " a federal level." Fort Myers City Councilman Thomas Leonardo agrees.
"I think that's that where the problem began," said Leonardo, "and that they're taking the steps to get the problem fixed." Leonardo says the fact that courts are making changes is proof the system is broken.
"I think that's that where the problem began and that they're taking the steps to get the problem fixed." But the councilman did say it's too bad a lost life if the reason for progress.
"Unfortunately sometimes that's what it takes," said Leonardo, "I hate to say that."
CHRISTINA BAILEY, REPORTER
cbailey@fox4now.com
