The following contains excerpts from a Dec. 5, 2019, article in the News-Press entitled “A look back at Cape Coral’s first law enforcement officer” by Cynthia Williams.
In 1962, Cape Coral acquired its first law enforcement officer. His name was Val Everly. Everly was one of the subsequent five Lee County sheriff’s deputies who comprised the nascent Cape’s “Security Force.”
In 1984, Everly’s son, Todd, was sworn in as an officer in the Cape Coral Police Department. The law enforcement careers of this father and son attest to the difference between Cape Coral then and Cape Coral now.
In the 1960s, Cape Coral’s security force of five took turns patrolling the developing community in a Chevrolet station wagon that, with its oxygen tank and resuscitator, doubled as an ambulance in case of emergencies. Criminal activity in the Cape at the time consisted of the occasional burglary, act of vandalism, or traffic violation.
After incorporation in 1970, Cape Coral formed its first police department. Lee County sheriff’s deputy, Val Everly, was recalled to Fort Myers. With the chief of police, the new-born CCPD numbered 11 officers, who shared a leased patrol car equipped with an old civil defense radio for communication. Although the car was unmarked, its identity was never in question, for the long antenna of the radio stuck out the back window of the car.
When Cape-born Todd Everly joined the CCPD in 1984, the department numbered 48 officers. Over the next 25 years, however, young Everly’s career with the CCPD attests to the difference between Cape Coral in the ‘60s and Cape Coral today. Among Everly’s many roles in the police department, for instance, have been those of major-crime detective and SWAT team member and commander.
Emory’s education is also an indicator of the change in law enforcement needs not only of a burgeoning Cape Coral population, but also of the nation. Along with his Master of Science Degree in Public Administration , Everly is also a graduate of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Commander’s course at LA State University, and of the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education.
Officer Everly was the assistant chief of police when he retired from the CCPD in 2008. By that time, the department numbered nearly 300 officers and administrative personnel. And patrol cars were equipped with computers.
Today, the Cape Coral Police Department has over 321 sworn officers and over 104 civilian staff members. The department consists of patrol, investigative services, special operations, professional standards, communications and logistics and community services.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Law enforcement in Cape Coral, from the 1960s to today
Reporting by Cynthia Williams, Special to The News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 5:08 AM.