Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Announces Community Trust & Equity Initiative
Last updated on September 30, 2020
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Announces Community Trust & Equity Initiative
Initiative will Further the City’s Actions to Address Police Reform and Increase Equity in Orlando
September 30, 2020 – ORLANDO, FL - Today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioners joined together with Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón to announce the Community Trust & Equity Initiative, the City of Orlando’s next phase of action to continue to further community policing and reform in an effort to address racial inequity in the Orlando community.
“Today we further our commitment to making meaningful change and take the next steps in building a more equitable city for every person who calls Orlando home,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We also reaffirm our partnership with our community to continue to work together to end systemic racism and create an Orlando where every resident is equally valued, equally protected and has equitable access to opportunities.”
The Community Trust & Equity Initiative will work to further address the deep structural change and cultural shift that’s necessary to achieve real, meaningful reform. This next phase, a multi-pronged approach, will involve:
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An independent third-party analysis and recommended reforms of Orlando Police Department policies, training, operational practices, accountability systems and technologies.
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This analysis will be led by The Bowman Group and Dr. Theron Bowman.
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Dr. Bowman, a former police chief and deputy city manager for the City of Arlington in Texas, has more than 30 years of experience leading and managing public safety operations.
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His team includes partnerships with two national nonprofits committed to excellence in policing – CNA Institute for Public Research and Effective Law Enforcement for All.
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Together, this team brings extensive knowledge in procedural justice, mental illness and crisis de-escalation and backgrounds that include serving as federal monitors, serving as a member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and serving as Managing Director of the Policing Reform Campaign at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
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A partnership with the Bethune-Cookman University Center for Law and Social Justice to launch a unique community engagement program in the Parramore and Washington Shores neighborhoods to utilize interactive training for Orlando Police officers together with Orlando residents, youth and community leaders.
Through this process, which will launch in October following City Council approval of the contracts with The Bowman Group and the Bethune-Cookman University Center for Law and Social Justice on Monday, October 5, 2020, the City of Orlando will be able to take more action to identify additional reforms and programs that can be implemented to ensure that police policies and training translates into officers working better and together with the community. These steps will also support Orlando police officers and help them to better serve residents.
Community engagement and input will be critical in the Community Trust & Equity Initiative and the city is encouraging Orlando residents to visit orlando.gov/equity to sign up for updates and learn about future opportunities.
BACKGROUND ON ACTIONS TAKEN:
Following the horrific death of George Floyd in May, and the power of the Black Lives Matter movement, the City of Orlando heard from many residents who asked for a review of the Orlando Police Department’s use of force policies and encouraged the city to strengthen efforts to address racial inequity in our community.
In response, the city made immediate changes, including banning the use of choke holds and no-knock warrants and updating OPD’s response to resistance policy. At the forefront of these policies is the requirement that officers employ de-escalation tactics to minimize the need to use force.
Additionally, through the city budget process, investments were made that further ensure Orlando is a city where all residents are treated with dignity and respect and have equal access to opportunities to thrive.
To help accomplish this, funding was refocused within the police department to create a new dedicated Community Oriented Policing team to focus solely on working collaboratively with residents to address community concerns and cultivate positive relationships. Additionally, Response to Resistance investigations are being enhanced through the creation of a new dedicated team that will provide additional oversight and transparency.
These investments also extend to providing opportunities to residents who’ve felt the impacts of centuries of racial inequity throughout the country, including expanding youth programs like Parramore Kidz Zone and My Brother’s Keeper and continuing to invest in affordable housing, job training and small business initiatives.
For more information on previous actions and investments the City of Orlando has made to date to make change and increase equity in Orlando, please visit orlando.gov/equity.
VISUALS:
For additional photos, please click here.
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