Orlando swears in new police chief

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando has a new top cop.

Deputy Chief Orlando Rolon, a 25-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, was sworn in as interim chief in a change of command ceremony Monday morning.

Rolon was appointed to the position by Mayor Buddy Dyer earlier this month to replace outgoing Chief John Mina. Mina is retiring from the department as he works to become the Orange County sheriff.

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Rolon is taking over a department that has seen an increase in crime over the last couple of years. From 2016 to 2017, there was a 2.2 percent increase in total crime. While those numbers are up, violent crime during the same time period is down from 2,302 incidents to 2,113.

Rolon said that protecting children is his number one priority.

Lifetime Parramore resident Nina Jones said she hopes Rolon can bring change to her neighborhood.

"Someone needs to come into this community - especially the Parramore area - and talk to the youth and encourage them to straighten up before they wind up in jail or dead before time," Jones said.

Downtown resident Mark Gianassi said he is confident Rolon is the right man to keep improving the department.

"I would put my hand out and thank him for the sacrifice of what he does for a living," Gianassi said.

WATCH: Swearing in of new Orlando police chief

Cox Media Group