Southwest Florida’s largest city has approved its budget and has decided to add more than a dozen new police officers to keep up with the population growth.

Cape Coral says these officers are needed based on the growing number of cars on the road and the spike in homes being built in the city. 

Cape Coral’s new budget provides more than $2.7 million, which will help with hiring 11 additional police officers. It could also add another four with a pending grant. 

Cape Coral PD hopes to have its new officers out on the streets by December to improve response times.