ORLANDO, Fla. — In the wake of several violent incidents in downtown Orlando last year, community and business leaders demanded police take action.
Orlando police responded by increasing the number of officers in the downtown area.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Read: “Off our streets”: Man arrested in connection with deadly stabbing of Daytona Beach couple
Armed with license plate readers, cameras and a team of data analysts the department set about the task of taking guns off the street.
Orlando police chief Orlando Rolon said the move is showing results.
Read: Man found dead after shooting in Millenia area, Orlando police say
“The outcome has been positive. The number of guns we have taken off the street has been significant.” Rolon said.
In the past year police have taken 158 guns off the streets in the Orange Avenue corridor.
Read: Teen playing video games among 2 killed in Titusville drive-by shooting, mother says
The department said that has reduced crime and since November officers have not responded to a shooting with a victim in that downtown area.
Rolon said the next step is to see if bars will allow the OPD crime center to tap into security cameras so officers can see in real time what is happening if and when a crime occurs.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
