Officer of the Year

The Marco Island Police Foundation hosted its first meeting of the year as it prepares for a change of leadership and announced the 2022 Officer of the Year. The Foundation membership and guests also heard from guest speaker, Colonel Jim Bloom, of the Collier County Sheriff’s Department. Colonel Bloom is second in command of that agency.

But before hearing from Colonel Bloom, Vernon Geberth, outgoing President of the Foundation took care of a little business by introducing the group to the 2022 recipient of the Foundation and MIPD’s Officer of the Year, Joseph Belardo. Prior to coming to Marco in 2020, Belardo retired from Schodack, New York where he had worked for 25 years, the last almost three years as Chief of the department of 11 officers serving a civilian population of just under 13,000.

Chief Frazzano, as well as others within her command staff, praised Officer Belardo for the skill sets he brought to Marco Island and his work ethic, including the ability to help in training of newer hires with less experience on the job.

“The support of the community for our agency is something you don’t see anywhere. This was a great choice and myself and my wife couldn’t be happier,” Officer Belardo said. He and his wife Renee have three children with the oldest at 32 and youngest 26. Their youngest child has chosen to follow their father and grandfather in the proud tradition of law enforcement, which brings a smile to Officer Belardo’s face when he speaks about it.

The gavel will be handed over from the present president later this year as Michael Hook assumes the two-year office from outgoing President Vernon Geberth. Geberth has held that position the last two years and was awarded a special gift during the meeting. “I’m honored. I didn’t expect anything like this,” Geberth said.

Special recognition was also given to long time Foundation member Dick Adams who has contributed much to the organization over the many years of its existence.

It was like a homecoming of sorts for guest speaker, Colonel Jim Bloom, as during his 28 years of service within the Collier County Sheriff’s Office he had passed over the Jolley Bridge on many occasions as a deputy and in many subsequent roles within the department. He served in a variety of responsibilities within the agency during his time ranging from a patrol deputy, varying roles within special operations, narcotics, Commander of the DRILL Academy, Youth Relations and other responsibilities. He was also the Incident Commander for the Department’s response during the Covid pandemic. 

You name it and Colonel Bloom has helped to manage it within the CCSO. In 2020 he was promoted to Undersheriff, where he manages the over 1,400 members of the department and the $206 million dollar budget. He works shoulder to shoulder with Sheriff Kevin Rambosk to implement his vision of maintaining Collier County’s distinction of being the safest county in the United States.

Colonel Bloom still finds time to get out into the community and listen to the concerns of the residents and keep them abreast of what is going on with his department. He praises the work being done by both the City of Naples, the City of Marco Island and the working relationships between the agencies in keeping the citizens safe.