THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, AN ICONIC OF FORT MYERS MONUMENT RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND RESTORATION EFFORTS NEEDED TO GET RACHEL AT THE WELL READY FOR A MILESTONE CELEBRATION.

CARVING A PATH IN THE MALE DOMINATED FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MEET THE SERGEANT WHO IS SHATTERING THE GLASS CEILING WITH THE HENDRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FINDING A SHORTCUT TO BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HOW ONE NAPLES MARKETING AGENCY IS USING AI TO HELP LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT ICONIC LANDMARK IN FORT MYERS CELEBRATES ITS ONE 100TH BIRTHDAY AT THE ENTRANCE OF EDISON PARK.

THE STATUE, RACHEL, AT THE WELL, PROUDLY CREATES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACROSS FROM THE EDISON FORD WINTER ESTATES FOR DECADES.

THE FOUNTAIN DEPICTING A GRECIAN MADDEN POURING WATER.

WELCOME TO VISITORS AND DRIVERS WHO PASSED BY ON THE GREATER BOULEVARD DAMAGES SUSTAINED DURING HURRICANE IAN SEEMED TO SPELL THE END FOR THE STATUE.

BUT AS WGCUS ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL SHARES RESTORATION EFFORTS MADE SURE THAT THE SUPPOSE IT RACHEL WOULD BE READY FOR A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

>> THREW A BIG PARTY ON SUNDAY.

HUNDREDS LINED THE PARADE ROUTE WHICH MEANDER THROUGH ANDERSON PARK AND A BRIGHT BLUE BIRD.

APRIL AFTERNOON, THOMAS EDISON WAS THERE IN A GLEAMING YELLOW MODEL T BEHIND HIM FOLLOW THE EDISON PARK ELEMENTARY DRUM CORPS AND THE FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL GREEN WAVE MARCHING BAND.

THE EDISON PARK SCHOOL VIOLINIST DAVID CHARMING, RESIGN.

THE OCCASION WAS THE ONE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL DEDICATION OF EDISON PARK AND THE CREATION MADDEN WHO GREET RESIDENTS AS THEY RETURN HOME FROM WORK RUNNING ERRANDS, MORE TIME OUT OF TOWN.

SHE'S KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS RACHEL AT THE WELL IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE AND 3 AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MANY OF THE EDISON PARK FAIR.

SHE COULD BE PUT BACK TOGETHER AFTER THE BOAT IN VIETNAM TWINE WROUGHT IRON FENCE THAT STOOD BEHIND HER FOR 96 YEARS, BROKE HER NECK AND HER BACK.

AND ON OUR CONSERVATION TEAM OUT OF TENNESSEE IN MIAMI DID RESTORE HER TO HER ORIGINAL GLORY.

WHILE CONTRACTORS REBUILT THE COLUMNS AND FENCING THAT SURROUND THE GRACEFUL MADE.

MAYOR KEVIN ANDERSON ELOQUENTLY EXPRESS THE EMOTIONS.

EVERYONE WAS FEELING AS HE STRODE TO THE PODIUM MORNING AS SO CEREMONY.

IT FEELS LIKE A HOMECOMING.

WE STAND HERE TO REDEDICATE, RACHEL AT THE WELL, NO OFFICIALLY AS THE SPIRIT OF FORT MYERS, BUT TO MANY OF US, RACHEL, IS SOMETHING FAR MORE PERSONAL.

SHE'S A FAMILIAR FACE.

SHE'S A QUIET PRESENCE, A SYMBOL.

WE HAVE PASSED 100 TIMES SOMETIMES WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO US.

>> KIM GATE HAS LIVED IN MEDICINE PARK FOR 37 YEARS.

SHE'S ALWAYS MINDFUL OF RACHEL'S PRESENCE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

SHE INSPIRES IN HER AND IN HER NEIGHBORS.

>> I ALWAYS SAY GOOD MORNING OR GOOD NIGHT.

I'M SURE AS I'M DRIVING THROUGH, SHE IS ALWAYS LOOKING DOWN ON US.

>> IT'S JUST A MESS NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE AND I KNOW THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THE 92 DURING THE INVOCATION.

>> ATTENDEES RECEIVED A REMINDER OF THE BIBLICAL PASSAGES THAT MENTION RACHEL AT THE WELL.

BUT TRUTH BE TOLD RACHEL WAS A NICKNAME THAT CITY WORKERS GAVE THE STATUTE BECAUSE OF HER PROXIMITY TO THE THOMAS, A EDISON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

THE NAME STUCK AND PEOPLE ASSUMED THE SCULPTURE.

MUFFINS ENGINE OR SNOW BROTHERS PROJECT MANAGER JAMES, THE NEWTON HAD GIVEN HER THAT MONIKER YEARS PAST THE STATUE FELL INTO DISREPAIR.

THE CITY IS BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD INTERVENED, HIRING THE SCULPTURE.

FORT MYERS DOWN DJ WILKINS TO REMOVE CORRODE CAST IRON PLUMBING AND GET THE FOUNTAIN RUNNING AGAIN.

NEWTON ATTENDED THE SCULPTURES REDEDICATION DECEMBER 6, 1983.

HE SHOCKED THE CROWD WHEN HE TOLD THEM THAT THE SCULPTURE IS TRUE.

TITLE IS IN THE SPIRIT OF FORT MYERS SINCE THAT EVENT, THE SCULPTURES COME TO SYMBOLIZE FORT MYERS, UNSHAKEABLE SPIRIT THAT DOG UNRESOLVED RESILIENCE AND PLUCK THE TOWNSPEOPLE DISPLAY IN THE FACE OF NATURAL AND FINANCIAL DISASTERS.

>> AS WATER FLOWS ONCE AGAIN FROM OUR HANDS AND FEEL SYMBOLIC.

NOT JUST OF LIFE, BUT THE RENEWAL.

CONTINUITY.

THE IDEA THAT EVEN AFTER HARDSHIP.

SOMETHING MEANINGFUL CAN RETURN STRONGER AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE CHERISH THEM BEFORE.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHE MATTERS SO MUCH BECAUSE IN HER WE SEE OURSELVES, WE SEE RESILIENCE.

WE SEE GRACE UNDER PRESSURE.

WE SEE THE QUIET STRENGTH.

IT TAKES TO WIN THERE.

>> AND TO BEGIN AGAIN, RACHEL IS NOT FORT MYERS, OLDEST PUBLIC ARTWORK THAT TITLE IS HELD BY THE HEAD AND SIREN LORELEI WHICH WAS SCULPTED BY ELIZABETH FINNEY IN 18.

82.

BUT RACHEL IS THE SCULPTURE THAT SYMBOLIZES THE HEART, THE MINDSET AND YES, THE SPIRIT OF THIS TOWN.

SO HAPPY ONE 100TH, RACHEL AND EDISON PARK.

>> I REALLY LOVE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE FOUGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT THE SCULPTURES NAME IS ACTUALLY RACHEL AT THE WELL, I KNOW I HAVE THOUGHT THAT.

DO WE KNOW WHO SHE REALLY DEPICTS A?

>> THE SCULPTOR.

HIS NAME IS HELMET FUNDS ENGINE CALLED THE PALM LEAF REPORTER IN 1926.

THAT SHE'S THE EPITOME OF THE GREEK GODDESS OF LIFE, GIVING FRESH WATER WITH THE CONNECTION TO ELECTRICITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY, THAT MEANS THAT HER ACTUAL NAME IS TEETH.

THIS AND SHE'S THE DAUGHTER OF URANUS AND GAIA.

THE FUND'S ENGINE HAD JUDGED A BEAUTY CONTEST SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE HE BEGAN WORK ON THE STATUE AND HE PROMISED THE WINNER THAT HE WOULD USE HER AS HIS MUSE.

NOW, MY ONGOING RESEARCH HAS YET TO REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF THAT YOUNG WOMAN.

BUT IT'S LIKELY THAT RACHEL BEARS AN UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE TO SOME BUDDIES.

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

>> YOU ALSO REPORTED THAT THOMAS EDISON WAS AT THE PARADE.

>> WAS THE ALSO THE DEDICATION IN 1926.

HE WAS.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS VONN'S ENGINE AND ACTUALLY PLANNED OF THE STATUE TO BE A NUDE.

AND WHEN SOME OF THE LOCAL LADIES FOUND OUT THAT INFORMATION, THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY MEDICINE AND ASKED TO USE HER INFLUENCE TO HAVE THE SCULPTURE PUT CLOTHES ON THE STATUE.

SO MY DAD, A SON, SOMEONE'S THE PROJECT MANAGER, A GUY BY THE NAME OF JAMES NEWTON TO SEMINOLE LODGE AND THEN NEWT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE SCULPTURE AND HAVE HIM PUT A SHIFT ON THE STATURE.

WELL, MINA WAS SO APPRECIATIVE SHE AGREED TO DO THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE AND HER DEDICATION.

AND ALTHOUGH IT IS AT THE TIME, THOMAS EDISON INSISTED ON BEING AT THE EVENT.

SO YEAH, HE WAS AT THE ORIGINAL DEDICATION.

HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO ACTUALLY PUT?

>> CLOTHING ON THE SCULPTURE.

>> HE'S ALREADY DONE.

AND THAT THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HE DID NOT CARVE THAT STATUE OUT OF A BLOCK OF STONE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON SITE QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

HE HAD DEVELOPED A SUBSTITUTE STONE, A COMPOUND THAT HE COULD APPLY IN LAYERS OVER KIND OF LIKE A SCALABLE FORM AND SO WHEN A NEWTON TOLD HIM TO PUT A SHIFT ON THE STATUE, HE JUST SIMPLY HAD TO ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF CONCRETE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SHIFT THAT YOU SEE TODAY.

UNDER STAN VAN ZANDT, JEAN WAS AN ARTIST.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT JAMES NEWTON WAS A SAVVY YOUNG MAN.

HE KNEW THAT IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE TOM AND MINE AT US AND HIS FRIENDS RATHER THAN ITS ENEMIES.

AND OF COURSE, A PAID OFF BECAUSE SEVERAL YEARS LATER, NEWTON AUTHOR OF THE BOOK ON COMMON FRIENDS WHICH DESCRIBES THESE TEENY FRIENDSHIP THAT AS AND SHARED WITH HENRY FORD AND HARVEY FIRESTONE.

SO INTERESTING.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT DETAIL.

I'M ALWAYS LEARNING MULTIPLE THINGS.

>> FROM YOUR STORIES, TOM.

WELL, THAT'S THAT'S ALL CITIZEN IT WORKS.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT COMING UP, BRINGING MORE INCLUSIVITY TO THE WORLD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAD TO HENDRY COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN THAT ARE GAINING TRACTION IN A MALE DOMINATED PROFESSION.

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION, WOMEN COMPRISE ABOUT 14% OF THE FULL TIME THAT'S WORN AND OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES SHERIFF'S OFFICES.

HOWEVER, THAT NUMBER IS ON THE RISE.

THE ASSOCIATION SAYS WOMEN MAKE UP 20% OF NEW ACADEMY RECRUITS WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK EXPLAINS EVEN RULE OFFICERS IN HENDRY COUNTY ARE INCREASING EFFORTS TO BRING MORE WOMEN INTO THE FIELD.

>> IN HENDRY COUNTY CHASING AFTER COWS IS A ROUTINE PART OF POLICING TODAY, SERGEANT LEROY HERNANDEZ IS HELPING A RANCHER CORRAL.

A RUNAWAY BOVINE.

HERNANDEZ WAS RACED IN THIS PASTORAL SETTING AND SHE'S FULFILLING HER MOTHER STREAM.

>> GROWING UP, MY MOM ALWAYS SAID SHE GOES, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A COP.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A COP.

SHE JUST ALWAYS I DON'T KNOW WHY HE SAID AIRWAY OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE SAW ME THAT I COULD BE A DEPUTY, BUT SHE'S LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE YOU'RE GOING TO BE A COP.

YOU SHOULD JUST BE A COP.

>> HERNANDEZ RECENTLY ATTENDED A SHERIFF'S WOMEN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

SHE WAS NOMINATED BY LIEUTENANT ALAN HUDSON.

>> YOU GOT LAURA.

SHE'S ALSO RIGHT.

I MEAN, WHY WOULD A A SHE SHE'S LOCAL.

SHE'S BEEN HERE HER WHOLE LIFE FOR FAMILIES FROM HERE ONE THINKS ABOUT LAURA, IS SHE?

SHE STARTED AND ROAD PATROL AND SHE WORKED HER WAY UP THE ENTIRE WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SHE SHE WORKED NIGHTS DAYS BACK AND FORTH.

EACH PROMOTION GOING ALONG SHE DIDN'T SHOOT EVERYTHING AND IT TOO.

SHE SHE WORKED HER WAY UP TO WHAT SHE IS NOW.

>> THE GEORGIA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO OPEN FOR HERNANDEZ A DECADE AGO AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE SPONSORED BY THE HENDRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SPONSORSHIP MEANT SHE COULD BE PAID DURING TRAINING WHICH FREED HER FROM EATING A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF INCOME.

>> ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS WAS YOU HAVE TO BE A LOCAL RESIDENT OF HENDRY COUNTY HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY.

BASICALLY HOMEROOM.

>> IN RURAL HENDRY COUNTY, WHICH HAS MORE COWS AND PEOPLE LIEUTENANT HUDSON SAYS THAT THE HOMEGROWN FACTOR IS IMPORTANT.

>> I MEAN, SHE SHE SOMETHING ELSE.

SHE KNOWS THE COMMUNITY.

I CAN ALWAYS RELY ON ARE IDENTIFIED, NEED SOME TYPE COLOR.

SHE ALWAYS ANSWERS THE PHONE AND SHE'S ALWAYS THERE.

IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

LAURA ALWAYS KNOWS OR CAN FIND OUT.

SHE'S FROM HERE.

IT'S GREAT.

>> HE EXPLAINS THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM THE HISTORICAL MAKEUP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> YOU SOMETIMES.

>> GOOD MIXTURES IS WHAT YOU NEED.

YOUNG KIDS.

>> WE NEED PEOPLE WITH LIFE EXPERIENCE.

WE NEED PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE.

IT'S A TEAM.

EVERYBODY BUILDS EACH OTHER.

EVERYBODY HAS A NICHE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY ARE BEST AT AND WE WE FOLLOW EACH OTHER TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

>> SERGEANT HERNANDEZ SAYS HER WORKPLACES GENDER-INCLUSIVE, BUT THE PUBLIC'S RECEPTION OF A FEMALE COP CAN SOMETIMES BE SURPRISING.

>> EVEN JUST WHEN YOU GO TO CAUSE.

YOU COULD GET THIS THING WHEN THEY GO.

IT'S A GIRL HERE.

CAN WE GET A DIFFERENT SOMETIMES I TO.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE, OH, CAN MAKE IT IN THE MEDIA AND I SUSPECT NIGHT CONTENDER THE QUALITY YOU NEED WHAT'S GOING ON?

IT?

>> HUDSON SAYS FEMALE OFFICERS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME HAVE A QUALITY THAT MALE COPS MIGHT LACK.

>> SOMETIMES YOU'RE WOMEN CAN BE THE MOM.

IF YOU NEED TO BE I HAVE I'M THINKING OF ONE PARTICULAR ONE IN MIND.

WE'LL SAY YOUR NAME, BUT SHE'S THE ONE THERE.

SHE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.

HE'S A GREAT COP.

SHE'S HARD.

BUT WHEN I NEEDED TO BE THE MOM, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU USE.

SHE CAN SHOW IT TO A SCENE.

AND SHES TEDDY BEARS AND A CAR.

AND SHE TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS ON SCENE.

WHEN I CAME TO.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE TO ME.

>> HUDSON SAYS THESE TEDDY BEARS ARE DONATED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO FAR ONLY THE FEMALE DEPUTIES HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE THE TEDDY'S FOR A RIDE ALONG.

HERNANDEZ HAS ANOTHER LAYER COMPLICATING HER PUBLIC PERSONA BEING LATINA IN THE PAST.

SHE SAYS SOME PEOPLE HAVE LAUNCHED INSENSITIVE WORDS AT HER.

BUT TODAY HER CULTURAL IDENTITY IS A BOON IN DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> ONCE THEY SEE A SPANISH OFFICER OR DEPUTY SHOW UP ON SCENE, YOU CAN SEE A RELIEF AND THE COMMUNITIES FACE OR THE PERSON'S FACE LIKE, OKAY, HE SPEAKS.

THANK MY GUESTS.

MAKE AND THEN THEY JUST SPELL IT ALL OUT.

THEY JUST START FLOWING WEATHER IS THERE WITH AN ON SPANISH SPEAKING DEPUTY.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER AND THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE TENSE OR SOMETIMES THERE'S MISCOMMUNICATION.

AND WHEN AND STAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, I GET THING THE KING AND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ME.

AND SHE ALSO SAYS INSIGHT OR KNOWLEDGE IS CRUCIAL FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL AGREE THERE.

WHAT SHOULD BECOME A FAMILIAR FACE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME RDU SOMETIMES THE IF DO SIU WRITING BY THE NIKKEI HAVE A QUESTION OR HEY, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT OR I'LL HAVE LIKE SOMETIME IN MAY DIFFERENT PEOPLE JUST FLAG ME DOWN OR SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET NUMBERS.

HOW DOES THE OF A NUMBER AND THAT THEY NEED HELP ON THIS GOING TO GO OKAY.

SO TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO THE COMBAT FAMILIAR FACE AND NOT MAKE COVERAGE BASED AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOU AND TALKING TO YOU WHETHER IT BE MAYBE THIS IS SIMPLY THIS.

MAKES A MOTION MORGAN WITH A SOLUTION.

I THINK THAT'S VERY GRATIFYING BECAUSE THE COCONUT >> SO FOR DEPUTIES LIKE SERGEANT HERNANDEZ, EACH INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC IS A CHANCE TO PRACTICE AND OVERCOME STIGMAS AND SOCIETY.

SHE CHIEFS THIS BY SETTING OUT EVERY DAY TO MAKE TRUST THE CORNERSTONE OF POLICING.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING OFFICERS OF ANY GENDER CAN DO.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> SUSAN HERALD JOINS US TODAY.

SHE IS FROM HENDRY COUNTY WHERE SHE SERVES AS A CAPTAIN AT THE HENDRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

CAPTAIN HARROW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR AT LEAST 40 YEARS.

23 YEARS.

AMAZING.

CAN YOU TELL ME HAVE YOU FIRST?

I BECAME INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IT WASN'T INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NEEDED A JOB.

>> SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A POSITION AVAILABLE AT IT MUNICIPALITY TO SMALL IN A SMALLS CITY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY WAS CALLED SOUTH BANK.

SO I APPLIED FOR THE POSITION OF DISPATCH AN >> THAT'S WHY STARTED.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY AND THE REST ASSIST AND YOU HAVE PRIMARILY WORKED IN RURAL COUNTIES, HENDRY COUNTY AND PALM BEACH COUNTY.

AND YOU SAID YOU PREFER YOUR WORK IN THOSE RURAL COUNTIES.

WHY IS THAT?

>> I LIKE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

I DON'T LIKE I LIKE THE GENUINE THIS OF IT OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES.

YOU GET TO MEET PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

YOU KNOW WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

ISSUES THEY MAY HAVE.

IF YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THEIR CHILDREN.

AND THE PEOPLE ARE JUST DIFFERENT IS JUST I JUST PREFER.

THE ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

HONESTLY, IF WHEN I'M NOT HAVING TO DO ALL THE THINGS EVERYONE I'M REQUIRED TO DO, AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTION.

I RE HALLIE ENJOY HELPING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES OR WHO NEED HELP.

I TRULY DO.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE MY HEART IS.

I SEE SO MUCH OF IT.

YOU SEE IT ON TV.

YOU SEE IT ON THE NEWS WHERE THERE'S THERE IS NO COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE.

AND I WOULD SAY THERE ISN'T ANY.

THERE'S JUST NOT AS MUCH.

IN MY OWN OPINION IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

WE SHOULD BE GUARDIANS.

NOT HEAVY BATCH.

WE SHOULDN'T ENJOY HAVING TO WRESTLING.

AND I DUCEY THAT SOMETIMES.

A LOT OF HOW I FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE AND HANDLING THINGS IS WHERE DID THEY JUST COME FROM?

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THINGS LIKE YOU NEED TO BE NICE TO PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

THAT'S TRUE.

YOU KNOW WHY SOMEBODY SITTING AT A BAR DRINKING, MAYBE HE'S WIFE JUST LEFT ING ILL KNOW WHY THE KIDS ARE OUT BREAKING INTO HOMES, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME.

IF THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S EASY TO OVERLOOK.

YOU DO HAVE A AN OPINION ON THE CURRENT STATE OF POLICING.

>> IN OUR CULTURE RIGHT NOW, MAYBE EVEN ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL I FEEL LIKE I ONLY KNOW WHAT I HEAR ON THE NEWS SHARES.

AND WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN MEETINGS.

AND I HAVE TO WONDER.

ONLY BASED ON WHAT I KNOW.

I HAVE TO WONDER WHAT KIND OF TRAINING THEY RECEIVE.

I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN'T AGREE WITH.

I SEE.

ICU YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE SO AFRAID OF THE POLICE OR THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF TRAUMA THAT JUST.

CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU SEE THEM TRIMBLE.

THEY CAN'T HARDLY TALKED FOR CRYING.

AND THAT'S IT SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THAT.

AND I I FEEL LIKE WE'VE FORGOTTEN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY THAT.

WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE PROTECTED, WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.

SO I DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF THAT.

AND I THINK A LACK OF TRAINING.

IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

AND WITH 4 IN REINFORCEMENT, YES, WE WERE DISCUSSING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE.

>> THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THAT SAY WOMEN TEND TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE COMPACT, MORE COMPASSION IN GENERAL.

AND THERE ARE RULES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPASSION.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.

RIGHT?

AND I FEEL LIKE.

YEAH, I'M WHERE I SHOULD BE.

I FEEL LIKE AN.

>> I DO.

I CAN'T THINK OF BEING ANYPLACE ELSE.

I CAN'T THINK THAT I WOULD.

>> EXCEL INJURING MANY OTHER UNITS WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE I HAVE THAT FOR PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAD DAUGHTERS OR GRANDDAUGHTERS THAT WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER.

>> BEING A COP, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM IN THIS IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

>> I WOULD TELL MY GRAND DOLLAR TOO, CONTINUE TO PURSUE HER CAREER IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO WORKS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO WORKS IN FINANCE OF A SON WHO WORKS IN.

AND I FEEL LIKE.

YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

AND I THINK PEOPLE BECOME NUMB TO IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'LL NOW WE'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE GOING.

COUNTY WHO WERE GETTING COUNTER WITH THE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE WEAK AGREES.

ALINA, THE HOME WE HAVE FAMILIES, WE HAVE A HUSBAND OR WIFE, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

WE HAVE SIBLINGS AND PARENTS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED.

MY SON-IN-LAW'S, THE DEPUTY.

AND I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED FOR THEM.

BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO THAT JOB.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

YOU HAVE GIVEN US A GREAT PERSPECTIVE AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT IN HENDRY COUNTY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

>> EVERY 8 TO 10 NEW PERSON IS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE U.S.

HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SAYS AN AVERAGE OF 15 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON THE NEED AND HOW ANYONE CAN BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR.

>> APRIL MARKS DONATE LIFE MONTH.

AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST BEING AN ORGAN DONOR CAN SAVE MORE LIVES THAN YOU THINK.

>> YOU CAN CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

YOU CAN PREVENT DEATHS ON THE WAITING LIST.

IT CAN CHANGE A WHOLE TRAJECTORY FOR A DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN SO EASILY DUPED BY REGISTERING WERE LETTING THEIR WISHES KNOWN.

>> AS CLEVELAND CLINIC, PULMONOLOGIST, THE REBOOT OF EXPLAINS ONE DONOR CAN SAVE UP TO 8 LIVES AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OVER.

75 MORE THROUGH TISSUE DONATION.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT NEARLY ANYONE CAN BE AN ORGAN DONOR BECAUSE THERE'S NO STRICT AGE LIMIT TO BECOME ONE.

DOCTOR BOOED HAVE SAYS THAT EVEN THOSE WITH CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS MAY STILL BE ELIGIBLE.

SO NEVER COUNT YOURSELF OUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR, INCLUDING WHEN YOU RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR BY REGISTERING ONLINE, DR, BOOED AT THAT.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THERE ARE MULTIPLE TYPES OF ORGAN DONORS.

>> ORGANS CAN COME FROM BOTH DECEASED DONORS.

THEY CAN ALSO COME FROM LIVING RELATED DONOR ZONE, LIVING DONORS, ESPECIALLY WITH LIVER TRANSPLANT AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, LIVING DONATION IS POSSIBLE.

>> IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A LIVING, ORGAN DONOR, DR.

BOO'D UP SAYS IT'S BEST TO TALK TO YOUR PROVIDER ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT TESTING MAY BE NEEDED.

WGCU NEWS IM TEDDY BYRNE >> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BRINGING A VOICE TO BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

ONE NAPLES COMPANIES BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING BUSINESSES TACKLE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

USING AI.

THE 2026 EDISON AWARDS ARE UNDERWAY IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS, RECOGNIZING THE VERY BEST IN THE INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS.

ONE OF THE COMPANIES BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ITS SOFTWARE SOLUTION IS THE NAPLES BASED MARKETING AGENCY.

DIGITAL SHORT CUTS WGCUS EMMA RODRIGUEZ LEARNED HOW THEY'RE INCORPORATING AI TO ENHANCE BUSINESS.

>> HELPING SMALL SERVICE-BASED BUSINESSES IS THE MAIN GOAL OF DIGITAL SHORT CUTS.

THE COMPANY USES AI AND OTHER ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS TO AUTOMATE THE CLAIM INTAKE PROCESS AND ELIMINATE THE BIGGEST KILLER OF BUSINESS RESPONSE TIME COMPANY FOUNDER KARIN HALL SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT WHICH COMPANY CAN HOOK A POTENTIAL CLIENT.

FIRST, WHENEVER YOU GO GOING FOR SOMETHING, YOU ARE THERE SPECIFIC.

>> AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE THING IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER WE WANT TO FIND A RESTAURANT OR WHETHER WE WANT GET HER HVAC SYSTEM OR WITH THE KING FOR HAIRDRESSER WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND A PERSON WANTS IS THE PHONE FIRST.

PUTTING A TWIST?

>> THAT'S FOR THE CONVERSION VELOCITY ENGINE.

THE AGENCY'S EDISON AWARD-NOMINATED PRODUCT COMES IN THE SOFTWARE USES AI AGENTS TO AUTOMATE THE BOOKING AND QUOTE, CREATION PROCESS VIA PHONE.

>> I'M ON A KISS FROM DIGITAL STRIKE.

HENCE MY KIDDING.

>> HERE'S HALL INTERACTING WITH MONICA DIGITAL SHORT CUTS.

AS DEMO AGENT.

>> NO PROBLEM.

WE CAN START SIMPLE.

DO YOU HAVE A WEB SITE ALREADY?

IF YES, WHAT'S THE DOMAIN?

>> THOSE PHONE CONVERSATIONS ALLOWED BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW UP WITH CLIENTS WHENEVER THEY'RE AVAILABLE, ELIMINATING THE OBSTACLE OF INITIAL RESPONSE TIME.

THE AI AGENTS ARE CUSTOMIZABLE BY GENDER AND AGE, GIVING BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT ONE THAT BEST SUITS WHO THEIR AVERAGE CUSTOMER WITH BEST RESPOND TO.

THE DIGITAL SHORTCUTS TEAM HOPES THE CONVERSION VELOCITY EDGE AND WINS THE EDISON AWARD.

BUT THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY'S JOURNEY HALL HASN'T LOST SIGHT OF HER ORIGIN POINT THE WORLD HAVE MARATHON RUNNING.

>> PEOPLE WHO RUN.

IF YOU WANT TO GET TO A CERTAIN FINISH TIME, YOU ACTUALLY STOP WITH THAT.

AND THEN YOU WORK BACKWARDS AND SAY, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO PER MILE IN ORDER TO FINISH AT THAT POINT.

AND THAT'S THE SAME THING I DID USING THAT PHILOSOPHY.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M EMMA RODRIGUEZ.

>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE TAKING ON A SECOND MAJOR WILDFIRE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

WE LOOK AT HOW CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT FOR AN INCREASE IN INFERNOS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

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HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE FOR OUR NEXT EPISODE.

TOMORROW.