School weapon detection system reducing arrests, infractions
The School District of Lee County’s weapons detection system is reducing arrests, civil citations and notices to appear the Lee County School Board was told at a workshop meeting last month.
Security and Fleet Operations Chief Dave Newlan said there have been questions around OPEN GATE and whether it has reduced law enforcement incidents.
In 2023, there were 604 total arrests, notice to appear and civil citations compared to 366 total in 2024 — a 39% decrease.
“That’s a pretty significant decrease compared to last year,” he said.
The presentation also broke down the incident comparison by law enforcement agency.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 2023 had a total of 289, compared to 174 in 2024, a 40% decrease. Those numbers include 82 arrests in 2023, compared to 57 in 2024; 173 civil citations in 2023, compared to 116 in 2024 and 34 notice to appear in 2023, compared to 30 in 2024.
The Fort Myers Police Department also saw a decrease from 70 to 50 — a 29% decrease. The department had 27 arrests in 2023, compared to 20 in 2024, 24 civil citations in 2023, and 35 in 2024, and 19 notice to appear in 2023 compared to eight in 2024.
The Cape Coral Police Department saw the largest decrease of 42% — 245 incidents in 2023 compared to 142 to 2024. The numbers had 20 arrests in 2023 and 21 in 2024, two civil citations in 2023 and nine in 2024 and 239 notice to appear in 2023, compared to 112 in 2024.
“I was happy to see the data,” Newlan said.
School Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said one of her top priorities is safety and security. She has asked Newlan to provide a safety and security update once a month at every workshop.
“We are thrilled,” Carlin said of the OPEN GATE data, as most areas are experiencing a decline.
Newlan said he has raw data that breaks down the information by school site and type of violation.
“I have seen a decline in all of them. Nothing has gone in the opposite direction,” he said.
Newlan provided an example of Mariner High School, which had a lot of notices to appear for nicotine, and now has experienced a decline.
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