FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Heather Allebaugh, (407) 246 - 3423
              Carson Chandler, (407) 246 - 2822
                       
 

ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR DYER ANNOUNCE NEW OPERATION TO COMBAT RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME    
 

Orlando, FL—June 13, 2007— On Monday, June 11, Orlando Police Chief Michael McCoy and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced “Operation: All Hands On Deck,” a new tactical operation to address the rise in violent crime.

“This initiative is a bold, enterprising and aggressive solution to Orlando’s rise in violent crime,” said Mayor Dyer. “We’re putting more boots on the street.”

The 30-day initiative, which went into effect on Sunday, June 10, will place added police patrols on the street in targeted “hot zones.” The Orlando Police Department’s Operations Committee identified high crime pockets within the City and using that data, created 25 patrol zones. Nearly 90 additional officers and supervisors from specialized units, including the Chief, management staff, mounted patrol and school resource officers, will be redirected to supplement patrol efforts in the 25 designated areas.

"The idea is to effectively deter, prevent and rapidly identify crime when it occurs by having additional police presence in high crime areas,” said Chief McCoy.

“Operation: All Hands On Deck” is one initiative under a wide-ranging strategy to combat crime in Orlando. Over the past year, Mayor Dyer has committed additional resources to combat the rise in crime including the multi-year, $100 million Public Safety Initiative which puts additional police officers patrolling our streets, establishing the Safe Orlando Task Force to develop short and long-term recommendations, OPD's deployment of TAC units and the launch of the Illegal Gun Bounty program.

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