Capt. Richard Dobson

Sanibel, Captiva and other islands within Lee County are beginning to see a new face wearing the uniform of a Lee County Sheriff’s Office captain.

Richard Dobson, who was a lieutenant and assistant commander of Bravo District in Lehih Acres for the past two years, has been promoted to “captain of Gulf District.”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Marine Unit is under his command and, while he will be aboard a boat on occasion, he will spend most of his time on the road. The headquarters are on Pine Island, Dobson said, two substations are in the city of Cape Coral and in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island.

Other islands within his jurisdiction are Cayo Costa, Useppa and South Seas Plantation. One deputy lives on Sanibal Island and is assisted by the Sanibel Police, Dobson said.

On Monday, his second day on the job, Dobson was on Pine Island. By telephone, he said the Marine Patrol he now covers the coastal waterways and also the coastal areas of Charlotte County.

Dobson started his law enforcement career in 1974 in Miami. In 1991, he joined the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

“I came down here to get away from the traffic and the crime,” he said of his move from Florida’s east coast to the west.

According to a prepared statement announcing Dobson promotion to captain and his new assignment: “Dobson began work full time with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 and has also served in the Detention Investigative Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Internal Affairs and as a K-9 handler.”

The statement also quoted Dobson as saying: “I have always loved the water and the islands. I am excited to be able to now work on and around the water and our island coast. I am honored to be able to continue my career with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as the Commander of the Gulf Coast District and look forward to working with our island residents.”

Dobson has a master of science degree in management/human resources and a bachelor of science degree in management from International College. He also holds an associate degree in criminal justice technology from Edison College and has more than 2,500 hours of law enforcement related training, according to his records.

The captain is married to Pamela Dobson, and he has a 19-month-old daughter, Teagan. He also has two grown sons. Richard Jr. works as a corrections officer for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and Kenneth is fire chief with the city of Fort Myers.

For the past two and one-half year, Dobson has worked in Lehigh, and he expects a very different crime situation on and around the islands. The Gulf Zone has experienced “some human smuggling,” and other kind of smuggling:

“We have to look at the problem of drugs and help the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Dobson also said in the telephone interview that he was looking forward to his first day on Gasparilla Island and future ones:

“I can’t wait to get up there and meet some of the people and serve them in anyway I can.”