Work has started on the construction process for the new Orlando Police Department headquarters. On December 12, joined by City Commissioners and Police Chief John Mina, Mayor Buddy Dyer contributed to the project by helping demolish an existing building on the site on Orange Blossom Trail.
A state-of-the-art, 94,500-square foot building will be built on the location, with construction commencing in April. The new headquarters will improve department operations, utilize the latest technology and make the department more accessible to the community, while also helping spur development along the Orange Blossom Trail.
“Today is an exciting day as we take down this building to pave the way for a new, state of the art Orlando Police headquarters building,” Mayor Dyer said. “While the new headquarters will improve OPD operations, it will also make the department more accessible to the community.”
The building will be completed in summer 2016.
“We are really excited to start this process and eventually get a new police headquarters,” Chief Mina said. “Back in 1972 when our current police headquarters opened, we only had 253 sworn officers and only serviced about 97,000 city residents. Today, over 40 years later, we have 743 sworn officers and 229 civilians who are spread out throughout the city at seven different substations. As our city has changed, the needs of the police department have changed.”
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