Police, community training could soon be heading to Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Special training for both Orlando police and residents of the Parramore neighborhood could soon be on its way.

Dr. Randy Nelson, the director of law and justice at Bethune Cookman University, said he’s trained officers nationwide and has recently seen success with his program at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Nelson has spent years working to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

His training involves leadership session with top brass, training with patrol officer and the community itself.

The training also utilizes a virtual simulator, in which they will determine to shoot or not to shoot. He will then bring together the officers and community members who received the training.

Nelson said people want the training now more than ever following the national outrage over the death of George Floyd. But he said, “This isn’t the time to do it.”

“Times like this reveal what you have done before,” he said.

Nelson said he has been setting up his program with the Orlando Police Department since November, and recently talked with Chief Orlando Rolon and Commissioner Regina Hill about starting the program in the Parramore neighborhood.

“They started the conversation way before this happened,” Nelson said.

The call for criminal justice reform is in no way new, but Nelson said it’s in need of a change.

“The criminal justice system has to be reformed, and that’s been the case for a while,” Nelson said.

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