Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings wants to use $150,000 to put private security on the streets of two neighborhoods.
He said it will be a first-of-its-kind program that he hopes to start in places like Azalea Park.
Joey Garcia lives in Azalea Park, a neighborhood of nearly 13,000 people in Orange County.
"It's getting worse, but hopefully, it will get better soon," Garcia said.
Eyewitness News obtained a letter Wednesday from Demings to county leaders.
The sheriff is asking for county commissioners to approve security guards in Azalea Park and Holden Heights, a neighborhood about a 20 minute drive away from Azalea Park.
A business owner in the Holden Heights neighborhood said extra patrol is needed. Holden Heights is home to around 4,000 people.
Demings hopes to hire a private security firm to monitor high crime hot spots, check on the elderly and
It's not known if armed security guards would be used.
Demings said money seized from drug dealers will pay the $150,000 cost.
A legal opinion from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the use of private security would be legal.
Demings told Bondi's office that the security won't take away from the number of deputies currently patrolling those areas.
One resident said criminals are already outsmarting deputies, and they'll do the same to security.
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Demings is expected to present his proposal to county commissioners Tuesday
He said it will be a first-of-its-kind program that he hopes to start in places like Azalea Park.
Joey Garcia lives in Azalea Park, a neighborhood of nearly 13,000 people in Orange County.
"It's getting worse, but hopefully, it will get better soon," Garcia said.
Eyewitness News obtained a letter Wednesday from Demings to county leaders.
The sheriff is asking for county commissioners to approve security guards in Azalea Park and Holden Heights, a neighborhood about a 20 minute drive away from Azalea Park.
A business owner in the Holden Heights neighborhood said extra patrol is needed. Holden Heights is home to around 4,000 people.
Demings hopes to hire a private security firm to monitor high crime hot spots, check on the elderly and
It's not known if armed security guards would be used.
Demings said money seized from drug dealers will pay the $150,000 cost.
A legal opinion from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said the use of private security would be legal.
Demings told Bondi's office that the security won't take away from the number of deputies currently patrolling those areas.
One resident said criminals are already outsmarting deputies, and they'll do the same to security.
Demings is expected to present his proposal to county commissioners Tuesday
WFTV
