A damning letter sent by the Orlando Citizens’ Police Review Board is putting new pressure on the Orlando Police Department as well as Mayor Buddy Dyer over ongoing problems of excessive force in addition to the city’s failure to properly investigate its own and provide answers to the public. In the scathing letter sent… [read more]
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings’ office is claiming no excessive force was used by deputies in the arrest of two college students, Deidra Reid and Reginald Lane, Jr. A six month internal investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office claimed the tactics used by Deputies Richard Nye, Brett Parnell and Kristine… [read more]
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill has confirmed her daughter Arvonni DeBose was murdered last August in Tallahassee and she’s asking for help to track down and convict those responsible. In a message posted on social media, Commissioner Hill began her plea saying “I post this with hesitation and regret.” The Commissioner… [read more]
The Orlando Police Department’s 2015 Year in Review provided some troubling statistics related to public safety in the City Beautiful. While there were minor gains being made in some categories of crime statistics, violent crimes increased, with murders doubling across the city from 2014 to 2015. Sex offenses and aggravated assaults… [read more]
For months, there have been calls for justice in numerous cases involving Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Nye, who is accused of excessive force and abusing his position. In fact, 21 excessive force complaints have been filed against Deputy Nye in the past seven years, including two recent cases heading… [read more]
As public scrutiny focuses on police practices and use of excessive force, interest in body cameras has skyrocketed, including here in Orlando. While not a solution, body-worn cameras could definitely help but only if there is an open public discussion on how to improve the process as implementation continues. There are… [read more]
When a police report was filed by City of Orlando employee Paul Wenzel alleging “criminal mischief” and “vandalism” of a $175,000 city asset in November 2012, the Orlando Police Department did nothing. No investigation was ordered. No questions were asked. In fact, no officer or detective ever reviewed the police… [read more]
The Orlando Sentinel has published a major report, Focus on Force, revealing 3,100 people were “hit, kicked, pepper-sprayed, shocked or had some other force used on them by Orlando Police Department officers from 2010 through the end of 2014.” OPD officers injured 1,900 people during that time, and 1,200 required medical… [read more]
A Dyer administration cover-up related to a $175,000 city asset continues to deepen as the story coming from Orlando City Hall becomes more convoluted. According to newly obtained records, city officials violated policies and procedures defined by its own Risk Management department in the aftermath of the destruction of the… [read more]
Over the last year, Orlando residents have faced a massive 17.7% property tax increase, substantial cuts to public services and an across-the-board 4.5% cut for every city department to close the city’s ongoing budget crisis. After years of mismanagement and out of control spending from Mayor Buddy Dyer and the rubber stamp City… [read more]