As violent crime continued to increase in downtown Orlando, police finally reacted to pleas from local businesses and residents. Just in the Orange Avenue corridor, Orlando police seized 158 guns in local operations during the last year.
“The proactive work of the Orlando Police Department officers, crime analysts, and the use of technology has led to the results of our efforts,” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said. “We are committed to keeping our vibrant downtown safe for all.”
Because of the Orlando crime problem that persists under Mayor Buddy Dyer’s administration, OPD has increased the total number of officers downtown, added license plate readers, more cameras and focused data analysts on guns. Chief Rolón says it is making a difference, but then why did the City of Orlando wait so long to do something?
Clearly, OPD does not believe the violent crime issue in downtown Orlando is solved either. Police now want bars to allow them to have real time access to their security cameras. Is that further proof that efforts made by Mayor Dyer, like the controversial IRIS surveillance system, the focus on red light cameras for revenue instead of crime prevention, and wasted resources and bloated budgets have not paid off for residents?
Do you feel safe in downtown Orlando?
