Orange County commissioners vote to add 20 new sheriff's office positions

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Thanks to a $2.5 million matching grant, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office will be able to add 20 new positions and increase coverage in key areas of the county.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings plans to use the extra personnel to add patrols to Pine Hills, International Drive and the east side of the county.

Much of the reported crimes in the International Drive area is not violent but car burglaries plague the area and deputies want the crowds to feel safe.

“It’s getting busier and they are building a lot here. We are getting a lot of tourists, so we are going to need some more (deputies),” said resident Sarai Ramos.

And perception of crime is a factor sometimes when it comes to funding.

The killing of a Turkish tourist during a robbery earlier this year made national news.

And two unsolved shootings in Pine Hills, one a doctor and the fatal shooting of a barber shop owner, had the community on edge.

The commission had no problem matching a Department of Justice grant for 20 new deputies.

“If you live in Orange County and you are watching the news every night, it just seems every night we are hearing more about crime and violent crime, “ said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “It’s important to our citizens to live in a safe community and feel safe.”

While Jacobs believes that matching the $2.5 million grant is doable and funding the new positions in the future is feasible, the sheriff’s office is still facing a challenge.

The office is already looking to fill 50 deputy positions vacated due to retirements and personnel leaving for better-paying jobs.

The 20 deputies will be paid for by the grant for three years, but the county will have to sustain them after the three years.

Jacobs said it’s no problem and it’s money well spent.

“It’s obviously a funding commitment, but it’s not that many deputies, and over time, so we anticipate that our revenues will increase,” she said.

Cox Media Group