Event raises funds for life-saving equipment for the FMPD

Larry Romano

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2016) – An annual golf tournament that raises funds to purchase life-saving equipment for the Fort Myers Police Department has been renamed in honor of one of its founding members who recently passed away.

The Larry J. Romano Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Fort Myers Police Foundation will take place on Monday, Sept. 26 at Colonial Country Club. Romano passed away suddenly in July at the age of 75.

After retiring to Fort Myers, Romano helped start the Fort Myers Police Foundation in 2014. Romano helped establish a similar foundation in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.

“Larry wasn’t a talker; he was a doer,” said FMPF Board Member Paul Fratello. “We look forward to continuing his legacy of ‘doing’ through the ongoing fundraising work of the Fort Myers Police Foundation on behalf of the FMPD.”

In its third year, the annual tournament raises funds to purchase life-saving equipment for the Fort Myers Police Department. Since its formation, the Police Foundation has raised $150,000 that has helped purchase medical kits for patrol cars, ballistic shields, electronic ear protection for shooting ranges, a firearms training simulator and more.

In June, the FMPD received a Meggitt Training Simulator donated by the Foundation. The Meggitt FATS® L7 compact training simulator effectively supports marksmanship and judgmental training needs of law enforcement, paramilitary and security personnel. The one-screen configuration includes both marksmanship training and video training modes to provide a multi-tiered program. The judgmental training enhances the understanding of shoot/don’t shoot situations and the corresponding decision-making process. The system is capable of supporting training of multiple trainees simultaneously, using up to eight system controlled weapons, during judgmental video training; thus, allowing trainees to engage in team training. During individual marksmanship training, the system emulates a gun range design that serves as a training environment where each trainee may shoot a different exercise, and in accordance with range safety/spacing guidelines, the system can support training of up to four trainees simultaneously.

Golf tournament registration begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The tournament will be followed by a cocktail hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. with an awards presentation, silent auction and 50/50 raffle. There will also be a hole-in-one contest to win a two-year lease from Galeana Dodge.

The entry fee is $200 per player and $100 for a non-playing guest. Individual and corporate sponsorships range from $1,500 to $5,000. Program ads are also available for $100 to $250.

Reservations and sponsorships are now available by visiting www.fortmyerspolicefoundation.org or calling 239-321-7740.

The Fort Myers Police Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to help build a stronger bond between the community and its local police department.