Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith came to a packed community meeting in District 1 with a clear headline: citywide crime is down, and shootings in the district have dropped sharply. Speaking to residents at the Storey Park clubhouse in southeast Orlando, he walked through recent high-profile incidents and the department’s plan to beef up staffing and technology to stay ahead of violent calls. Neighbors, however, steered the conversation back to the day-to-day stuff that drives them nuts, from speeding and squatters to stolen property, as city leaders and officers looked on.
Smith told attendees on Wednesday that Orlando’s overall crime rate is down about 7% and that shootings have fallen roughly 15%. He highlighted a Tradeport workplace shooting in which the suspect was arrested and a drive-by at a Wawa where the victim ultimately chose not to press charges. He also described how Orlando Police Department drones have observed people committing shootings and burglars exiting windows, according to WESH.
Drones and response tactics
Smith put a spotlight on the department’s Drone-as-First-Responder program and the addition of unit leads patrolling District 1. The program, now operating with 11 drones stationed around the city, can be dispatched to shots-fired and burglary-in-progress calls so officers arrive with a live video view of the scene, according to Police1. Officials have demonstrated the system at police headquarters and say the drones often reach scenes before patrol cars, giving dispatchers and officers real-time situational data, Police1 reports.
Residents push for local fixes and e-bike rules
Storey Park resident Sheri Lynch told the chief she is worried about squatters, speeding and stolen property in Meadows at Boggy Creek, and other neighbors echoed similar concerns. District 1 Commissioner Tom Keen said e-bikes are becoming a growing safety issue and that city, county and school officials are working on language to spell out the rules for riders and drivers, as reported by WESH. Smith urged residents to keep calling 911 so officers can respond and so patrol resources can be directed where the data shows the need. The meeting itself was listed on the Orlando Police Department’s events calendar, per the City of Orlando.
