Orlando Police Department

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	Law enforcement Civilian agency
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 19 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 / Sea World
• University of Central Florida
• Unincorporated Orange County
• Areas of Orange County Incorporated, but by other municipalities.

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]

Officer	Date of Death	Details
Town Marshal James W. Williams	Sunday, October 1, 1876	Shot by a drunk off-duty Orange County Sheriff's Deputy
Police Officer William Beasley	Thursday, January 1, 1885	Gunfire
Police Officer Egbert C. Moore	Sunday, August 6, 1933	Gunfire
Lieutenant Edward Tullis Winn Jr.	Friday, September 13, 1935	Motorcycle accident
Police Officer Harry G. Mason	Sunday, February 20, 1938	Motorcycle accident
Patrolman John E. Owen	Saturday, August 4, 1962	Gunfire
Patrolman Sidney Crenshaw	Tuesday, November 22, 1966	Vehicular assault
Police Officer Mitchell L. Nutter	Saturday, February 10, 1968	Gunfire
Investigator Terry N. Thuma	Tuesday, January 9, 1990	Gunfire
Police Officer Michael W. Burson Sr.	Saturday, June 23, 1990	Motorcycle accident
Police Officer Robert Joseph Montgomery	Tuesday, November 10, 1998	Automobile accident
Police Officer George Stefan DeSalvia	Thursday, February 3, 2000	Gunfire
Police Officer Tanja Brigitte King	Thursday, May 18, 2000	Automobile accident
Police Officer Alfred L. Gordon Sr.	Thursday, October 4, 2007	Gunfire

Kicks for Guns program

The police department has managed, along with local radio program The Monsters In The Morning on WTKS-FM, 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 Digitial Radio System, Chief 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

	Florida portal
	Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal

• List of law enforcement agencies in Florida
• List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies

References

1. ^ http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/DEPT/correct/default.htm
2. ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page http://odmp.org/agency/2947-orlando-police-department-florida
3. ^ "Florida Cops Get Missile Launcher in 'Kicks for Guns' Exchange". Fox News. August 17, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293666,00.html. 
4. ^ Amnesty: Rocket Launcher Swapped For Trainers |Sky News|World News
5. ^ "Police get missile launcher during gun-shoe exchange". China Post. 2007-08-20. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/2007/08/20/119161/Police-get.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-21. 
6. ^ "Item first identified as a missile launcher is actually a carrying case". Orlando Sentinel. 2007-08-21. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/ocoee/orl-launcher2107aug21,0,6051478.story. Retrieved 2007-08-31. 

External links

• Orlando Police Department (official website)