Orlando’s first female Police Chief Val Demings on Tuesday announced her retirement effective on June 1, 2011.
Demings, 54, who headed the Orlando Police Department (OPD) for three years, served the department for 27 years before being appointed to the position of chief. Appointed in December 2007 by Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer, she has been praised for significantly reducing violent crimes in the city.
Demings is to be succeeded by Deputy Chief Paul Rooney who will serve as the city’s 37th police chief.
“Over the last three years, there has been a dramatic decline in violent crimes in Orlando and keeping our community safe will always be a top priority,” said Dyer. “With Chief Rooney’s strong background we will continue to target street level crime and the removal of drugs and crime guns from the streets.”
Demings’ somewhat abrupt retirement comes amidst rumors that she has been tapped for a federal position. There is also speculation that Demings may have political aspirations.
Rooney has been a member of the Orlando Police Department for more than 24 years and has been serving as Deputy Chief for the more than three years. Much of his career has been spent overseeing tactical operations aimed at reducing violent crime and taking drugs off the streets. Currently as Deputy Chief, he is responsible for the Patrol Division, the largest section of OPD comprised of 432 employees.
