The Orlando Police
Department unveils its new headquarters — complete with an appearance by the SWAT team.
After more than a decade in the making and spending $50 million, the Orlando Police Department was not going to have stage a typical ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Especially when it has a SWAT team with rappelling equipment.
Four team members dropped 50 feet from the roof of the new building at the corner of South Street and Orange Blossom Trail to deliver the over-sized scissors to cut the ribbon.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” said Chief John Mina. “It’s a great day for the City of Orlando and the Orlando Police Department.”
The conception of the project began in 2006 when thenChief Michael McCoy asked for a feasibility study. Seven years later, the city decided to sell the old headquarters on Hughey Avenue to the Orlando Magic organization.
Deputy Chief Sue Manney headed up the project.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” she asked to applause.
The old building, erected in 1972, was out-of-date, and a new facility was needed, Mina said.
“It has outlived its purpose, as it lacked the technology, access for disabled and the many amenities for the public this facility offers,” he said.
The 94,000-square-foot facility has state-of-the-art technology, including interrogation rooms that will help detectives preserve evidence and a room in the digital forensics unit that will “protect the digital evidence of cases involving cell phones and computers.”
Mina declined to get into details, but said Orlando is the only police department in the southeast U.S. with the technology.
The glass facade building has a community room that will hold up to 400 people. It also has a designated area in the parking lot where people can safely exchange items bought and sold on online e-commerce sites.
Mayor Buddy Dyer emphasized these features were part of making the building more friendly to residents.
“This new home of OPD was made for you to make a connection to officers and make officers more accessible to the public,” he said.
The headquarters is on the
property that used to house Holden Street Elementary School, which was Jackson Street Elementary before that.
It closed more than 40 years ago, but a dozen or so alumni attended and were recognized at the ceremony.
Ronnie Dexter, 73, attended grades first through sixth in the the 1950s.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s something you couldn’t dream of during that time. I think they picked a great site.”
Dyer, past Orlando police chiefs and several city commissioners, including Regina Hill, whose district is home to the building, attended the event.
“I believe this will start the revitalization of the OBT corridor,” she said.
The project also included the renovation of a warehouse facility to house OPD Crime Scene Investigation and the relocation of the equestrian unit.
As for the old building on Hughey Avenue, the Orlando Magic organization is tearing it down and building a $200-million entertainment complex that will include the team’s headquarters.