BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " JERRY DEMINGS " IS THE SHERIFF OF ORANGE COUNTY A BLACK MAN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THE UNITED STATES : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

  BLACK              SOCIAL          HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                  ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

•                                                                                                                                                                      Not long ago that east Orange County was a quiet community known more for agriculture than the high levels of commercial and residential development that identify it today. As the community has grown and prospered, the Sheriff’s Office has also grown to ensure the quality of life of our citizens is maintained.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings

Since 2003, the Sheriff’s Office has seen the calls for service in East Orange County rise by nearly 49 percent. Immediately after I became Sheriff, we opened what I would describe as our flagship sector office to serve the needs of east Orange County. This new facility located at 11000 Lake Underhill Road provides residents and businesses law enforcement services ranging from uniform patrol and traffic enforcement to criminal investigations.

Patrol Services are divided into six geographic sectors and east Orange County is identified as Sector Two. It is under the command and supervision of some of our most experienced staff whose job it is to be familiar with that community. Through their efforts and the collective efforts of many specialized units, they work to identify and resolve any problems as quickly as possible.

Intelligence Led Policing incorporates computerized mapping, crime analysis, and integration of information about the community to allow us to make significant strides in responding quickly to crime, suppressing the activities of offenders and preventing future occurrences. Deputies are able to get a visual representation of where crimes are occurring through crime mapping. They use this new automated tool to focus on and immediately address any threats.

Use of crime analysis information has enabled us to solve crimes and in many cases apprehend offenders while the crime is still in progress. Through the coordinated efforts of uniform patrol deputies, detectives and specialty units, we are able to sharply focus our resources on developing crime trends.

Tremendous growth does not come without a cost and that fact is well illustrated by increasing traffic problems throughout east Orange County. Our Traffic Unit assigns deputies who are committed to the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. Although the Sheriff’s Office does not investigate traffic accidents, we make every effort to prevent them. Our uniform patrol and traffic deputies concentrate on making our school zones safe through directed enforcement. They actively seek information from the Florida Highway Patrol, Orange County Traffic Engineering and you, the citizens. If you see a problem in your area, let us know. We will use every resource available to address it.

As Sheriff, I have made it my mission to implement the most effective crime fighting methods available today, but our success is based on two essential criteria: the men and woman of the Sheriff’s Office who come to work every day and dedicate themselves to the task of eliminating crime, and the members of the community.

Your refusal to allow criminals to destroy your peace and prosperity and that of your neighbors is the most important aspect of crime prevention. Your reports of graffiti and other indicators of gang activity make it possible to focus our Gang Suppression Unit on not just vandalism, but the source of much of the crime that is occurring throughout east Orange County.

Your active cooperation in reporting crime and suspicious activity is the key to our success. Working together we can make a difference in your community. I look forward to continuing to be your Sheriff.