Orange County

Officer shot during hostage situation receives full disability pension from Orlando Police Department

The Orlando police officer shot during a hostage situation in 2018 has received a full disability pension from the Orlando Police Department, providing him and his family with money for the rest of their lives.

Officer Kevin Valencia suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was shot in the head.

Meghan Valencia did not speak in front of the board to ask for her husband to get an in the line of duty pension.

Read: ‘This is bad’: Wall Street sees worst day since 1987 as coronavirus fears spread

She didn’t need to because it took just minutes for the pension board to decide that officer Kevin Valencia deserved it.

Kevin Valencia is incapacitated and has been since he kicked in the door of an apartment in 2018.

Kevin Valencia and his squad were sent to the home after a woman said a man was holding four kids inside.

Gary Lindsey shot through the door, hitting Kevin Valencia in the head. He has been in a treatment facility ever since.

Read: Basketball games, art festivals: What events and attractions are closed in Central Florida due to coronavirus?

Several Orlando police officers have been in front of the board over the last few months because Chief Orlando Rolon has eliminated long-term, light duty positions at the department.

Kevin Valencia’s attorney told the board he will never work as a police officer again.

"The evidence is undisputed that he is permanently, totally disabled from an injury received in the line of duty,” said an attorney for Kevin Valencia.

Meghan Valencia is the guardian for her husband, who cannot speak for himself due to his condition.


Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.