Apopka’s new police chief, Lovetta Quinn-Henry, PhD, is staking out her leadership style in plain view, leaning hard on face time with residents and hard numbers on crime. Quinn-Henry is officially the 16th chief of the Apopka Police Department and the first woman to ever hold the job, stepping in after a six-month transition as deputy chief spent learning the ranks and the city’s priorities up close.
Her game plan got a spotlight Tuesday on WKMG’s "Trooper Steve on Patrol," where Trooper Steve sat down with Quinn-Henry to talk crime strategy and community outreach. The Feb. 17 segment outlined her push to keep crime low while tightening response times and deepening neighborhood connections, as reported by ClickOrlando.
According to the City of Apopka’s official page, she took the oath of office on Oct. 30 and formally assumed command on Nov. 1, 2025, succeeding Chief Michael McKinley. The department lists its headquarters and contact information at 120 E. Main Street in downtown Apopka.
An 'intentional' approach to policing
Quinn-Henry has been pitching what she calls "intentional" policing, an approach that leans on crime data to pinpoint hot spots and on stronger officer training to shape better outcomes on the street. She plans to overhaul community engagement events so they feel more purposeful and to expand professional development opportunities for officers, according to The Apopka Chief.
Local roots and big-agency experience
A graduate of Apopka High School, Quinn-Henry spent 25 years with the Orlando Police Department, where she rose to deputy chief and led teams that handled major incidents. Her OPD tenure included commanding critical-incident support after the Pulse nightclub shooting, an experience she has described as pivotal to how she now supports both officers and the community, per reporting by the Orlando Sentinel.
Since taking over in Apopka, Quinn-Henry has kept a visible schedule, meeting with seniors, talking about cyber-safety and previewing plans for a more inclusive National Night Out. City figures shared at her change-of-command ceremony pointed to roughly a 26% drop in violent and property crimes from 2024 and no homicides reported in 2025, a trend she says she wants to protect even as Apopka continues to grow, according to The Apopka Chief.
Residents looking to contact the department or track updates can find Apopka Police Department contact details and news on the city’s website. Apopka.gov
