Cape Coral lieutenant named Officer of the Year finalist for youth mentoring, enhancing event safety

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South is hosting its annual Law and Order Ball this Saturday to honor law enforcement officers across Lee County, with Cape Coral Police Lt. Phil Lamanna among the five finalists for Officer of the Year.

At Cape Coral's Koza Saladino Park, Lamanna wears a different uniform as a Little League baseball coach, a role that aligns with his involvement in the Cape Coral Police Athletic League.

"We just take kids that maybe they're having some trouble at school or at home, or maybe they can't afford sports, and we try to put them into sports with different coaches—boxing, football, cheerleading," Lamanna said. "So it's one thing that I really like. I've had the same kid on my team for like four years."

Lamanna's leadership is also evident in his police work, where he has focused on improving safety at major events like Bike Night and the annual Red, White, and Boom celebration. His efforts were influenced by the New Orleans tragedy on New Year's Day 2025, when a terrorist drove a truck down Bourbon Street, killing 14 people.

"We came up with a plan, and now we're hardening all the streets," Lamanna said. "I mean, there's no way to get a car into these big events. And so what basically I do is kind of go through, look to see how to make the event safe, and then try to do it cost-effectively because we're not trying to charge so much money where people can't put events on."

Lamanna expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by his department.

"They always give me good opportunities, especially the chief is giving me opportunities," Lamanna said. "And, without him giving me those opportunities, maybe I wouldn't even be a lieutenant. So I really appreciate them."

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South will announce the 2026 Officer of the Year at the Law and Order Ball this Saturday.

Ahead of the event, a fundraiser featuring local celebrity bartenders, including the state attorney, Fort Myers police chief, and a Cape Coral city councilmember, will take place Thursday at Millennial Brewing.

One dollar from every pint sold and tips will be donated to support the Law and Order Ball.

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