Bill Moore, candidate for Orange County Sheriff and a 21-year law enforcement veteran, says Orange County Commissioners have been misled by current Sheriff John Mina, as he revealed what he calls a deputy staffing crisis and data discrepancies.
Moore wrote a detailed report to Orange County Board of County Commissioners, urging immediate and transparent action to address this crisis, which he says threatens public safety and undermines trust in local government. Moore is calling on county leaders and residents to closely scrutinize the upcoming 2025 budget presentation by Sheriff Mina, following a pattern of misleading claims made during last year’s 2024 budget presentation.
Moore stated his position: “I will be the advocate for deputies to ensure their voices are heard and not retaliated against. I will answer the call from residents demanding that 911 calls are answered promptly and neighborhoods receive proactive patrols. Unfortunately, proactive patrols can only happen with adequate numbers of uniform patrol deputies on our streets. I know where the problems are and I will fix it.”
On July 11, 2024, Sheriff Mina told the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and the public that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) was doing “pretty good” compared to nationwide staffing levels. The sheriff downplayed concerns about vacancies, claiming the agency had hired 160 deputies in 2023, planned to hire the same amount in 2024, and that OCSO maintained staffing levels close to the national average stating, “We are…uh…have hundred eighty-one (181) uh, vacancies uh for deputies, that’s less than 10%, and if you compare that nationwide law enforcement that’s actually pretty good.”
Despite Sheriff John Mina’s public assurances in 2024 that OCSO was “pretty good” compared to national averages, multiple reliable sources, including the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 (FOP93) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), document a significant staffing shortfall according to Bill Moore.
“Orange County is operating at just 1.05 deputies per 1,000 residents and even if the current 1,885 authorized positions were fully staffed, OCSO would still only manage 1.21 deputies per 1,000 residents. Orange County’s population is booming, and our law enforcement staffing hasn’t kept pace. Every delay puts our residents and deputies at risk.
Bill Moore’s report details discrepancies in staffing data reported by OCSO compared to FDLE records and FOP93 data.
“My analysis shows that Orange County is short 242 deputy sheriff positions based on the current authorized staffing level of 1,885 and to be ‘average’ compared to other sheriff’s offices in the state, OCSO needs an additional 645 Uniform Patrol Deputy positions, a 34% staffing increase.”
Going further, Bill Moore underscores the need for an independent financial audit to ensure allocated staffing funds were properly spent and calls on County Commissioners to mandate the Orange County Sheriff to submit complete and verified staffing data under oath and at least one week prior to any budget presentation.
“Cooking the numbers to look good on paper doesn’t protect a single resident. Orange County deserves real data, not creative math,” said Moore.
The staffing crisis is more than a numbers game, according to Moore. “This chronic understaffing leads to burnout, high attrition, and slower emergency response,” he said. “It’s not just a budget concern; it’s a public safety emergency.”
Moore’s correspondence also outlines pathways for the OCBOCC to secure funding to meet adequate staffing levels based on Orange County’s total population since ultimately, OCSO has jurisdiction over all law enforcement matters in the county. He proposes a phased-in approach to increase staffing by 645 Uniform Patrol Deputy positions over three years, using a combination of General Fund and Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) revenue, as well as exploring the potential of leveraging Tourism Development Tax (TDT) revenue should state law allow broader use for county services.
Key data from Bill Moore’s analysis includes:
- Current staffing levels: 1,643 active deputies, 242 short of the authorized 1,885 positions (FOP93, May 2025).
- Statewide sheriff’s office staffing average: 1.65 deputies per 1,000 residents (FDLE, Retrieved May 2025).
- Orange County Sheriff’s Office ratio: Only 1.05 deputies per 1,000 residents based on the current estimated population of 1.56 million.
- Additional need: 645 more Uniform Patrol Deputy positions to meet state staffing averages.
Moore also calls for the release of all results and comments from the Sheriff’s own March 2025 internal survey, which revealed that nearly half of deputies would not recommend OCSO as a workplace and significant dissatisfaction with agency leadership and work environment. A copy of the sheriff’s email was included in the report to Orange County Board of County Commissioners.
“The public deserves honest, accurate data and proactive solutions to these serious staffing challenges,” Moore emphasized. “As a candidate for Sheriff, I will continue to advocate for the resources and accountability necessary to keep our community safe and our deputies supported.”
A full copy of Bill Moore’s letter to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners warning they are being misled by current Sheriff John Mina can be viewed online.
