On Wednesday, November 18th, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings surrounded by some nine area police chiefs and representatives from local security concerns, kicked off Operation Safe Holidays 2009.
Sheriff Demings, speaking on behalf of the law enforcement agencies present, put criminals on notice for the holidays and warned that specific and enhanced measures were being put in place to reduce crime. In particular, he stressed that the primary focus would be the area’s shopping areas, tourist corridors and high crime areas throughout the county.
Demings noted that each law enforcement agency has their specific plans for fighting crime over the holiday season, but that a united front of all agencies was being presented, a first in the history of area law enforcement agencies. Some of the “pro-active anti-crime initiatives being undertaken include, increased numbers and visibility of officers, unmarked police vehicles and greater collaboration with private security,” Demings said.
Speaking specifically for the Orlando Police Department, Chief Val Demings noted that the message being sent to criminals was that “shoppers and consumers will enjoy the holidays, but criminals will not enjoy the holidays.”
Chief Val Demings said that usually there is a spike in crime around the holiday season, particularly, property crimes. Moreover, it is anticipated that this could likely increase, owing to the economic downturn that currently characterize the economy. But she urged shoppers to take the necessary precautions to minimize property crimes and safeguard their personal security.
At the launch of Operation Safe Holidays 2009, Demings was flanked by police chiefs–Val Demings, Orlando; Brett Railey, Winter Park; George Brennan, Winter Garden; Charles Brown, Ocoee; Pete Marcus, Edgewood; John Tegg, Belle Isle and Richard Beary of the University of Central Florida, along with other private security representatives.
Operation Safe Holidays 2009 will run from November 18th 2009 through January 2, 2010.
Are you kidding. We have renters that have moved into our neighborhood and boy o boy. Thugs and drugs and with a side of prostitution. We have called orange county and NOTHING has changed. We have seen empty baggies littering once clean yards. Music pumping all hours of the night and not to mention all of the unwanted traffic. Sex acts on the outside of the home. Gardens are being destroyed and our neighborhood looks trashy. the dea was even called and the drugs continue. NOBODY CARES!!!!! I am more scared of these people than the sex offender who lives in the area.