'We need your help,' OPD, sheriff call on community to report violence

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orlando police Chief John Mina and Sheriff Jerry Demings, with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, announced a new plan Friday to combat crime.

The plan is called Operation RISE, or Restoration, Inclusiveness, Safety and Empowerment.

Eyewitness News reported Thursday that the plan will center around getting illegal guns off the streets.

“We need people to call and come forward before the violence starts. That’s why we need your help,” Mina said.

There has been a rash of deadly shootings and other violence plaguing Pine Hills and Parramore in the last two months.

“This effort will include increased patrols and multiple other tactics in Pine Hills to reduce the number of violent crimes, so residents and businesses can feel safe again in this community,” Demings said.

State Attorney Jeff Ashton said while utilizing tools like Crimeline to report crimes can be helpful, people need to be willing to go even further.

“Crimeline doesn’t give prosecutors evidence to go to court with. We need people to come forward,” Ashton said.

But some residents fear coming forward will get them in trouble.

“Retaliation, you know, thinking something might happen to them down the line,” said resident Terry Baker.

Law enforcement officials said they will work with people in the community to address any safety concerns they have coming forward.

Ramos Jones owns a plumbing business in Pine Hills. He told Channel 9’s Angela Jacobs that he’s happy law enforcement is intensifying its help, but said those efforts alone won’t fix the real problem.

“I had a lot of friends who went to prison and they’re still in prison since the '90s," Jones said.

He said he knows where bad choices lead. He’s a former gang member and said thanks to what he calls, “a tough road and tough love,” he’s turned his life around.

“I’m just overwhelmed by all the killing,” Jones said. “You’re all killing each other and don’t nobody win in this situation. Not at all. Not at all.”

Pine Hills resident Ray Sloan said he’s also fed up with the violence.

“On my street, a 4-year-old boy got shot in the leg two years ago,” he said.

He’s lived in his neighborhood 17 years and said the increase in violent crime has him worried for the safety of his own family, including his 20-year-old son.

“Sometimes I worry about him with the way they just pop up and shoot people,” Sloan said.

Both agencies said they've seen great success with the amount of drugs and guns they're getting off the streets. But with the homicide rate up 50 percent, they said the new initiative will need the community’s help to work.

“What are you doing? You can do something too,” said Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill.

Eyewitness News obtained data from the state that showed Orlando ranked third in Florida in recovered firearms last year. That's behind Tampa and Jacksonville, and doubles the number seized in Miami.

Cox Media Group