Mina travels the world to discuss response to Pulse
Orlando Police Chief John Mina has traveled around the world to discuss with police groups how his department responded to last year’s mass killing at Pulse nightclub.
City spokeswoman Cassandra Lafser said Mayor Buddy Dyer has spoken about the importance of city officials sharing their knowledge with others who may experience a similar event.
“We have a unique perspective that other governments, cities and businesses can learn from that first-account experience,” she said
Mina has been to seven conferences: two in California, one in New York, one in Naples and three in foreign countries — Dubai, Canada and Israel. He’s been making presentations about the attack “to share the experience and knowledge he has gained” — a longstanding practice in law enforcement, police spokeswoman Michelle Guido said. “Law enforcement across the nation and the world has a tradition of sharing best practices and lessons learned in large-scale incidents,” she said.
In all cases, the host or group paid for Mina’s travel, lodging and meals, according to the department. The latest conference was last week in Dubai, where he spoke over two days about Pulse and multi-agency coordination in counterterrorism. Dubai police paid for the trip.
Mina had to tend business back home when State Attorney Aramis Ayala called last week to say she would not pursue the death penalty against accused cop killer Markeith Loyd, who’s charged with gunning down his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton. He voiced his displeasure to several media organizations, including the Orlando Sentinel.
In October, Mina attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference and the Major Cities Chiefs Association meeting in San Diego. The International Association of Chiefs of Police paid his way.
Mina spoke at a counterterrorism conference paid for by the Anti-Defamation League in July in Israel. Although the Pulse massacre was a topic of conversation, he was invited before the attack.