ORLANDO, Fla. — Now that Deputy Chief Eric Smith has been named as the next Orlando police chief, retiring Chief Orlando Rolón is preparing to leave office after a 30-year career at the Orlando Police Department.
Rolón said making the decision wasn’t easy because he loves the department, loves the city and feels there’s more to do. But he told Channel 9 he feels good about Smith taking over, and with the way the retirement system is setup, that this was the best decision financially for him and his family.
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“Feeling great, you know, 30 years literally flew by,” he said.
Rolón said being the first Hispanic chief in OPD’s long history is special.
“I think that we are underrepresented when it comes to executive-level positions within government and in the corporate side of Central Florida,” Rolón said.
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He said he hopes his role has provided inspiration to others in the department and the community.
But beyond that, he said he is most proud of guiding the department through the most challenging years law enforcement leaders have faced in recent memory with the pandemic and the racial tensions following the death of George Floyd.
He said there’s nothing he would have done differently or regrets.
READ: Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón announces retirement
He said he’s often asked about taking a knee with Sheriff John Mina during the Black Lives Matter protests, but explained, he told the protestors they weren’t taking a knee against law enforcement.
“I said, ‘Why don’t we take a knee to pray about unjust behavior of law enforcement, domestic violence, child abuse? Why don’t we take a knee to pray about all those things?’” Rolón said.
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And while he doesn’t like the increase in violent crime we’re seeing here and other parts of the country, he said he is confident in Smith’s leadership and has offered him this advice:
“Two key things as being chief is to obviously address crime. But to also recognize it as equally as important to also make sure that we develop relationships and maintain relationships with from our, with our citizens, who are entrusting us to do our job,” Rolón said.
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Over the past 20-plus years, OPD chiefs have held the top job four years or fewer. Rolón said a lot of that has to do with timing and maxing out the retirement system in place, but also it’s been priority of the mayor to have a pipeline of leaders ready to take over the department.
While OPD hasn’t had a long-time leader at the top, Rolón feels it keeps the department from growing stagnant, and that those former chiefs who have moved on have continued to serve the community.
Rolón said he’s not sure what retirement holds for him. He said he may consider working in the private sector, and also wouldn’t rule out running for public office.
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