Trust, Transparency, Dignity & Respect
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is committed to reducing crime and the fear of crime while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and treating members of the public with dignity and respect. Sheriff John Mina is committed to reviewing our policies with input from the community and making necessary changes.
Transparency
The Orange County Sheriffâs Office works diligently to enhance trust through transparency.
The Orange County Sheriffâs Office began testing body worn cameras in 2014 and by 2016 they were deployed to all patrol deputies. Currently, all patrol deputies and many of the agencyâs specialty teams have body worn cameras. The footage preserves deputy interaction with the public, captures evidence for use in cases and serves as a training tool to assess officer safety, best practices and interactions with the public. Body worn camera footage is available to the public under the Florida Public Records Laws. Body Worn Camera Policy
Sheriff Mina has a nine-member Citizens Advisory Committee made up of residents chosen by the Orange County Mayor, each County Commissioner, the police union, and the sheriff. The committeeâs mandate is twofold: To provide a public forum for constructive dialogue between citizens and law enforcement; and to study relevant policies and procedures and provide recommendations, if any, for positive change.
Training
The Orange County Sheriffâs Office training requirements far exceed the state standards mandated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). OCSO annual training emphasizes de-escalation tactics, crisis intervention and treating all members of our community with dignity and respect.
- FDLE requires every law enforcement officer in the state of Florida to attend 40 hours of training every four years.
- The Orange County Sheriff’s Office requires our sworn personnel to attend 32 or 40 hours of mandatory training every year.
- In addition to that, hundreds of deputies have undergone a 40-Hour Crisis Intervention Training â a program that provides specialized training for helping those individuals with mental illness and/or addictions.
Response to Resistance
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has clear policies and procedures personnel must follow to ensure that only the force necessary to perform their official duties of public safety will be used.Â
- Deputies are trained on a response to resistance matrix.
- Deputies have a duty to intervene if they observe the unreasonable, unnecessary, or disproportionate use of force.
- Enforcement situations are to be de-escalated âas soon as the point of subject compliance is reached,â while protecting the safety of the public.
- Neck restraints â including chokeholds and strangleholds – are prohibited except in situations where deadly force is authorized.
All potential Response to Resistance policy violations are investigated and when policy violations occur, appropriate discipline, up to and including termination, will be administered.Â
Response to Resistance Statistics (2022)
Response to Resistance Statistics (2021)
Early Identification System
The Early Identification System (EIS) helps supervisors and managers identify deputies and other employees whose actions could signal the employee is under stress and provide appropriate intervention. EIS, in conjunction with the various support programs provided through the agency, is designed to identify sources of job and personal stress, to improve performance and benefit the employee, the agency, and the community.
