Orlando Police Department
Coordinates: 28°32′29″N 81°23′00″W / 28.541285°N 81.383455°W
Orlando Police Department | |
Patch of the Orlando Police Department. | |
Logo of the Orlando Police Department. | |
Motto | "Courage, Pride, Commitment" |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1875 |
Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Legal jurisdiction | City |
General nature |
|
Operational structure | |
Sworn members | 700+ |
Unsworn members | 100+ |
Agency executive | Paul Rooney, Chief of Police |
Facilities | |
Lockups | Orange County Corrections[1] |
Website | |
Official website | |
The Orlando Police Department (OPD) is responsible for law enforcement within the city limits of Orlando, Florida. OPD currently employs over 700 sworn officers and over 100 civilian employees serving the citizens of Orlando through crime prevention, criminal investigations and apprehension, neighborhood policing, involvement through the schools with young people and overall delivery of police services.
Mission statement
Keep Orlando a safe city by reducing crime and maintaining livable neighborhoods.
City Crime Ranking
According to 2010 "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America", published by CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly Inc, Orlando is ranked the 10th most dangerous city in the country.
Police Academy
Through a joint effort with other local agencies and Valencia Community College, uncertified newly hired officers attend a 22 week academy at the Criminal Justice Institute at VCC.
Specialized Units
OPD operates a wide range of specialized enforcement units including:
- Traffic Enforcement
- Mounted Patrol (Horses)
- Criminal Investigation Units
- Marine Patrol
- Airport Division (Orlando International Airport)
- Bike Unit
- K-9 Unit
- Gang Unit
- SWAT
- International Drive Team
- DUI Enforcement Team
Jurisdiction
The Orlando Police Department patrols only within the city proper as illustrated below:
Orlando Police does patrol
- Orlando City proper
- Orlando International Airport
- Universal Studios
Orlando Police does not patrol
- Walt Disney World / SeaWorld
- University of Central Florida
- Unincorporated Orange County
- Areas of Orange County Incorporated, but by other municipalities.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is responsible for patrol of Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and all unincorporated parts of Orange County.
Accreditation
In 1997, the Orlando Police Department became an accredited police agency as certified by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. To accomplish this task, the agency showed compliance with hundreds of standards established by the Commission. In October 2000 and again in 2003 the Department successfully completed re-accreditation. Also in October 2003 the Department achieved National Recognition from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Orlando Police Department, 14 officers have died in the line of duty.[2]
Kicks for Guns program
The police department has managed, along with local radio program The Monsters in the Morning on WTKS-FM,[citation needed] a "no questions asked" gun exchange for gift cards or sports shoes. In August, 2007, a man turned in an item first identified as a rocket launcher resulting in international publicity.[3][4][5] The item was later determined to be an empty carrying case for a TOW missile and its launcher.[6]
Radio Encryption
On April 19, 2008, The Department migrated from their existing radio system to a new Motorola APCO 25 Digital Radio System, Chief Val Demings advised in a meeting with local citizens and the news media that the news media and public will no longer have access to the system, and that all information coming out of the department will be issued through the PIO (Public Information Officers) Office. Reasoning for Installing the new controversial radio system ranged from Officer Safety to Operational Security, The Encryption Modules for each radio costs over $1000 http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Orlando-Police-To-Begin-Scrambling-Radio-Scanner-Signals/1$40552
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Florida
- List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies
References
- ↑ http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/DEPT/correct/default.htm
- ↑ The Officer Down Memorial Page http://odmp.org/agency/2947-orlando-police-department-florida
- ↑ "Florida Cops Get Missile Launcher in 'Kicks for Guns' Exchange". Fox News. August 17, 2007.
- ↑ Amnesty: Rocket Launcher Swapped For Trainers |Sky News|World News
- ↑ "Police get missile launcher during gun-shoe exchange". China Post. 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- ↑ "Item first identified as a missile launcher is actually a carrying case". Orlando Sentinel. 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
External links
|