Orlando police: 'Open data' shows use of force is rare

New website offers police transparency

The Orlando Police Department says there are no cover-ups when it comes to citizen contacts on the streets of the city and it wants the public to see the proof.

“City specific” data made available to the public Monday suggests Orlando police officers use of force is restrained in most incidents.

Deputy Chief Orlando Rolon told News 6 there are 400,000 contacts “in any given year” and only 550 “may result in a use of force or response to resistance.”

“What we’ve found is it’s more than a fraction of a percent,” Rolon says.

The data shows the highest percentage of police-citizen confrontations occur near the bars and clubs in Downtown Orlando between 9 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Sunday.

“They’re not listening to commands to stop," Rolon said, Officers try to break them up and maybe chemical spray or Taser is used to break up the fight.”

Rolon says use of force represents a full range of options and that  physical confrontations are rare, amounting to a small percentage.

“The number of incidents we (OPD) are confronting out there are worse than others undoubtedly," Rolon said.

The site has interactive tools that allow users to run a tailored analysis of the data that is available.

Maps are available so residents can check incidents on any given location in the city.

The new site can be accessed at data.CityofOrlando.net.


About the Author:

News 6’s Emmy Award-winning Investigative Reporter Mike Holfeld has made Central Florida history with major investigations that have led to new policies, legislative proposals and even -- state and national laws. If you have an issue or story idea, call Mike's office at 407-521-1322.

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