Orlando, Florida Police Department

Infobox Police Department
name = Orlando Police Department

motto = Courage, Pride, and Commitment
established = 1875
jurisdiction = City
sworn = 700+
non-sworn = 100+
CSO =
stations =
jails = [http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/DEPT/correct/default.htm Orange County Corrections]
helicopters =
policeboats =
chief = Valdez B. Demings
sheriff =
commissioner =
supervisor =

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 The 14th annual "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America", published by CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly Inc, Orlando is ranked the 11th most dangerous city in the country. It is based on the FBI's Sept. 24, 2007 crime statistics report.

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. Officers who have already obtained Florida State Law Enforcement Certification prior to being hired do not attend. After certification through an academy, all new officers are required to take part in a 22 week field training program.

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

Jurisdiction

OPD officers do not patrol Walt Disney World properties, which are 20 miles south of the city limits, in unincorporated Orange County and Osceola County. They are patrolled by deputy sheriffs of the Orange County Sheriff Department and Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

Much of the International Drive tourist strip including Universal Orlando and Wet-N-Wild Water Park are located within the city limits and actively patrolled by OPD officers. SeaWorld and the Orange County Convention Center are patrolled by the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

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. [The Officer Down Memorial Page http://odmp.org/agency/2947-orlando-police-department-florida]

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. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293666,00.html FOXNews.com - Florida Cops Get Missile Launcher in 'Kicks for Guns' Exchange - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News ] ] [ [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1280391,00.html Amnesty: Rocket Launcher Swapped For Trainers |Sky News|World News ] ] [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Police get missile launcher during gun-shoe exchange | date=2007-08-20 | publisher= | url =http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/2007/08/20/119161/Police-get.htm | work =China Post | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | language = ] The item was later determined to be an "empty" carrying case for a TOW missile and its launcher. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Item first identified as a missile launcher is actually a carrying case | date=2007-08-21 | publisher= | url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/ocoee/orl-launcher2107aug21,0,6051478.story | work =Orlando Sentinel | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-31 | language = ]

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 (Publlic 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 $1000http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Orlando-Police-To-Begin-Scrambling-Radio-Scanner-Signals/1$40552

ee also

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

External links

* [http://cityoforlando.net/police Orlando Police Department (official website)]

References