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What's New2009 A Year in Review
August 21, 2009 It’s with great enthusiasm that I write to update you on our collective effort to keep Orlando safe. Recently Police Chief Val Demings joined me and our City Commissioners to open the Orlando Police Department’s new state-of-the-art training facility. This facility is the final component of our three year, multi-million dollar Public Safety initiative that has bolstered the number of officers on the streets, added new substations throughout the City and invested in tools, training and technology for our police officers. I want you to know that this commitment to safety is paying dividends. Since 2006, there has been a 62 percent decline in the number of homicides in our City. Further, all violent crime is down in our City by 13 percent. This year, we also launched the first phase of our IRIS program that utilizes “smart cameras” that can detect movement and alert police to crimes as they are happening. Already, these cameras have helped OPD make a number of arrests. Before the end of the year, IRIS cameras will go live on International Drive. We are also working hard to ensure the safety of our City despite the negative effects of the global economic crisis. Faced with a City-wide budget deficit, the Orlando Police Department (like all City Departments) is reducing its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. I am happy to announce that we have been
able to avoid the elimination of any OPD officers thanks to a federal
COPS hiring grant. Late last month, we received notification that the
City was selected, through an extremely competitive process, to receive
these federal stimulus dollars that will preserve these police jobs. The safety of our City is my first priority. With your help, we will continue to ensure that Orlando is a safe City in which to live, work and raise a family. -
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