Orlando Police Department unveils new headquarters in Parramore

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Police Department unveiled its new $50 million headquarters during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday in the Parramore neighborhood.

The 94,000-square-foot building, which has been in the works since 2015, is located at South Orange Blossom Trail and West South Street.

The facility will include enhanced interrogation rooms and a special area to protect digital evidence, which is described as one of a kind for a police department in the southeastern U.S. It also has an e-commerce exchange that will allow people to meet others safely in person after completing a purchase online.

"It's drawing us together as Orlando, as a community," said resident Alfreda Dykes Johnson.

The building replaces the previous headquarters on South Hughey Avenue, which were constructed in 1972.

"I do believe this is going to start the revitalization of the OBT corridor," said Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill.

SEE: New Orlando Police Department headquarters

"This building is brand new," Orlando police Chief John Mina said during Wednesday's ceremony. "It's better for the officers. More importantly, it's better and will have easier access for our residents to interact with our police department in any way they need to."

Mina said the new facility was designed with a larger lobby and wider sidewalks to be more inviting to the community.

"We'll do numerous events here in an effort to make those relationships stronger with the Parramore community," Mina said. “Our old police station was great and served a purpose, but it was hard to get to, especially for our community members.”

The project was $10 million over budget, because an equestrian facility had to be relocated, and an evidence and property warehouse had to be renovated.

"It's more than about celebrating a new building. It's about celebrating our partnerships with our community, with our residents and about creating new ones," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

The new headquarters features a 5,000-square-foot room for events and meetings, an enhanced operations center, sculptures and more convenient visitor parking. The building will include a memorial for the Pulse victims and highlight OPD's actions the night of the mass shooting June 12.

The new facility will have room for about 300 officers.

"We've had some tragic events, but our community, I think, is more unified than it has ever been," Dyer said.

Mina has already moved into the new headquarters, and others will transfer operations in the coming weeks.

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