Only two Orlando police officers patrolled all of southeast Orlando, until now. Compare that to four squads of 10 officers, who will work a leased substation in the Moss Park shopping plaza. That means 10 officers will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Lake Nona Community Police Office opened last week to improve weak response times in the southeast. Units used to respond from the Pershing Avenue substation — nearly 10 miles away. “This coincides with the growth going on here,” said Officer John Keefe, East Orlando liaison. “I got complaints about response times and our six-month calls-for-service evaluation indicated we needed better times.”
As southeast Orlando blossomed, most police calls dealt with construction burglaries. But as more and more people flooded the area, the calls not only increased but became more serious. People are also asking more of their police force. In the last several weeks seven homeowners’ association presidents have approached Keefe about starting Neighborhoods Watch programs. “Citizens are starting to get more involved and are calling us more frequently.
They want more police presence and better public safety,” Keefe said. “We hope us being here will get people more comfortable with us and make them more inclined to ask us questions.” Traci Russell of Moss Park stopped by the OPD office to check out their new digs. She said having more police around could deter crime. “It just makes us feel safe,” she said. “Before we never knew where they were coming from or who our police officers were.
Now we know if something happens, they are here.” The police office has been planned for more than two years, but there was no commercial space available for rent. When developers started building the Moss Park plaza, OPD approached them. Interior construction began last August and cost $60,000, plus $40,000 a year for rent. The 1,400-square-foot building includes an administrative office for fingerprinting and police reports, and 10 large cubicles for the officers. Eventually OPD will build a permanent, standalone building in the southeast, where officers can process evidence, hold prisoners, interview suspects and victims, and have community meetings.
“There is a certain need for us to be housed in this area. People are so glad we are here. It has been a long time coming,” said OPD Chief Val Demings. “We are pushing hard this year to get more citizens involved in community programs.” The new southeast officers said they were excited to be closer to the people they serve. Sgt. Michele Smith had a family and squad photo on her desk first thing in the morning opening day. “Our drive time will be cut in half or more,” she said. “People out here really seem to respect the police and interact with us.”
The substation’s new neighbors are especially grateful for the police presence. “I feel like I do not have to doublecheck over my shoulder all of the time,” said Dale Kosola, Papa John’s Pizza manager. “With restaurants and stores there is always the concern about getting robbed or our drivers getting robbed. I just do not think that will happen with the police right next door.” Although her employees are never alone at closing time, Quiznos Sub Shop Manager Luxy Inglesia said it can be scary.
She said her plaza neighbors have already provided a sense of security for her and her employees. “It is nice to have them as neighbors. I wish they were next to my house,” she said.
