Orlando City Council OKs creation of new OPD office focused on transparency, equity in policing

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando’s City Council passed a resolution Monday allowing for the creation of a new office within the police department dedicated to building community trust in the agency.

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The new Office of Constitutional Policing is meant to build on Mayor Buddy Dyer’s  Community Trust and Equity Initiative, launched in September 2020.

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The initiative seeks to improve community policing and achieve “real, meaningful reform” within the department.

The Office of Constitutional Policing will help with the implementation of recommendations derived by police reform experts, the Bowman Group, after an in-depth analysis of the department’s policies, training, and operational practices in an effort to find opportunities to improve transparency and equity at OPD.

“Today we further our commitment to make change to ensure Orlando is a city where every resident feels equally valued, equally protected, and has a fair and real opportunity to thrive,” Mayor Dyer said in a statement. “This new office will help further community trust through its role in ensuring our officers not only enforce the law, but protect and respect the civil rights of all our citizens.”

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The Office of Constitutional Policing will include two separate units. The Constitutional Policing and Policy Implementation Unit will handle monitoring and tracking community trust, and assisting with the police department’s policy review and development.

The Accountability and Standards Compliance Unit will primarily be responsible for reviewing Response to Resistance reports, which must be completed by a supervisor after most incidents in which police force is used.

“A commitment to constitutional and community policing will foster a culture of ethical lawful practices,” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said. “Together, they build trust between our officers and the citizens we serve.”

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The city plans to have the office up and running by June 1

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