Marco Island has a new police chief.
City Manager Casey Lucius named Interim Police Chief Joe Belardo to the position on Monday, Aug. 3, and announced her decision at the Marco Island City Council meeting that night.
“I’m very pleased to announce to the community I made the selection of chief of police and Chief Belardo accepted the job and is effectively our new police chief,” Lucius said.
Belardo calls his interactions with the community very positive
Surrounded by many of the city’s police officers, Belardo took the microphone.
“I just found out about this today, myself,” he said. “I just want to thank this entire department, all the community. We have had a lot of interactions with the community. It’s been very, very positive, and we’re making a lot of changes.”
Belardo, who joined the Marco Island Police Department in 2020, replaces Tracy Frazzano, who retired in May after three decades in law enforcement.
Belardo began his career in New York and served as a police chief until 2020. In Marco Island, Belardo was promoted twice – to sergeant in 2023 and to lieutenant in 2025 – before becoming interim police chief.
Belardo holds two masters’ degrees including a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in the Administration of Justice and Security. He and his wife, Renee, also operated Blue Wave Swim School, a community-focused program dedicated to youth water safety.
Lucius said a formal public celebration will be planned.
She also noted the attendance of so many police officers Monday “as a demonstration of how impactful his leadership has been in a short time.”
The details of Belardo’s contract weren’t immediately available.
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J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Marco Island City Manager names new police chief in Joe Belardo
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
