Marco
Police Foundation
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Officer of the Year for 2006
Linda Guerrero came to work at the Marco Island Police Department on 9/16/02. During her time on road patrol Linda became a D.U.I. enforcement officer and arrested many drunken drivers. During her four years as a police officer Linda has consistently been near the top of the department when total arrests are counted. In October 2005 Linda was promoted to detective and in the last three months of that year she greatly assisted in the clearance of many crimes. The result was highest clearance rate in the history of the department (21.9%) and the largest single year drop in crime (14.33%). While the 2006 statistics are not yet complete, I believe crime will be down again and Linda Guerrero will again be near the top of the department in total arrests. These facts are in no small part due to Linda’s investigative skills, tenacity and diligent hard work. As supporting evidence I would like to provide the following information. In January 2006 Linda obtained two arrest warrants for two Hialeah men who came to Marco Island in December of 2005 and burglarized a new construction residence and stole the appliances. Through investigation two of the three suspects were identified and arrested and are currently projected to plead guilty in January 2007 to Burglary, Grand Theft and Criminal Mischief. In February 2006 Linda received some anonymous information with the name of one 14 year old that might be involved in a business burglary that occurred on N. Collier Boulevard. Linda interviewed the 14 year old and he admitted to committing the burglary along with another 14 year old. Both boys were arrested and charged with Burglary and Grand Theft and later plead guilty. All the money taken in the burglary was recovered from the suspects and returned to the victim. In March 2006 Linda investigated the Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling where an elderly female was the victim. The complainant reported that the only person who had been to her residence was a 25-year-old Marco Island man who was there to provide an estimate for screen repair. Linda found out who the screen repairperson was and knew that he had criminal record. She also found out that the victim’s credit cards had been stolen and used at Coastland Mall. She went to the mall and was able to obtain a video of the suspect using the stolen credit cards. The suspect was located, arrested and charged with seven felonies and is currently in county jail awaiting trial. In April 2006 Linda investigated a Sexual Battery where the suspect was only known by the name of “Travis”. Through investigation she was able to identify the suspect and cause other Marco Island Police Officers to locate the suspect in Goodland. He voluntarily returned to the Marco Island Police Department and shortly after his arrival the victim positively identified him from photographs as being the person who assaulted her. He was arrested, charged and is currently awaiting trial. In June 2006 Linda investigated the Grand Theft of light fixtures from a building under construction on San Marco Road. The theft occurred at night, but a video camera recorded the suspect and his vehicle, a silver truck with distinctive markings. Linda was able to locate the truck, identify the suspect and arrest him. After his arrest the suspect admitted to the Grand Theft and all the property was recovered and returned to the owner. In July Linda investigated an Attempted Felony Murder and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle. The suspect a 16-year-old Golden Gate youth, stabbed the victim several times at a house on Marco Island, stole a truck and fled. The suspect was involved in an accident and fled on foot (one). He was arrested and later admitted to limited involvement in both crimes. He was subsequently charged with both offenses and waived to adult court and is awaiting trial. In September 2006 Linda arrested a 29-year-old Marco Island man for Grand Theft, Forgery and Counterfeiting Payment Instruments. The suspect, a business owner, gained access to another business and obtained account information, forged checks on the account and produced counterfeit checks. The suspect was charged by the State Attorney’s Office and is awaiting trial. In May 2006 Linda investigated the theft of over $50,000.00 in jewelry from a Condominium in Cape Marco. The victim a 64-year-old female with terminal “Lou Gehrigs Disease” was extremely upset because, she wished to leave her jewelry to her family members upon her death. Although several people had access to the jewelry Linda was able to narrow down the suspect to a home healthcare nurse living in Cape Coral. Linda was able to secure the return of all the jewelry by the end of May and personally return it to the victim. While not criminally charged, the home healthcare nurse is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Licensing regarding her nursing license. The 64-year-old victim passed away in July 2006 as a result of her disease. Because of Detective Linda Guerrero she was able to have what can only be described as a dieing wish, the return of her jewelry. I can still recall Linda after she was assigned the case and had met the victim, she told me how it had affected her and stated, “ I just want to see her face when I hand all her jewelry back to her “. Well Linda was able to accomplish that and many more things this past year.
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The Marco Police Foundation is a nonprofit, non-political foundation in support of the Marco Island Police Department and in service to the residents of the City of Marco Island. All information on this web site is believed to be accurate however information can change without notice. Send mail to
pkeys@marcopolicefoundation.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
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Detective Linda Guerrero: