It was a tough path, and tougher still in the 80s for a woman and Black American in a profession that had few of either. But she determinedly pushed forward, graduating from the police academy as class president, receiving the Board of Trustees\u2019 Award for Overall Excellence, and earning the reputation of a bold, creative cop willing to take on conventional thinking and the toughest parts of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Demings served 27 years and at every rank level in the department. She commanded the Special Operations division and handled the department\u2019s highest-profile tasks. She attended the 226th session of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Executive Institute. She coordinated the response of the Airport Division on 9\/11. And in 2007, she made history when she was appointed to serve as the city\u2019s first female Chief of Police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The eyes of the city were on her. The financial crisis was squeezing budgets. But by taking the tough fights head-on, she did more with less, kept officers on the street, and crushed violent crime, reducing it by 40%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By working closely with the Orlando community, Chief Demings made the concept of \u201cprotect and serve\u201d a tangible presence in Orlando\u2019s most dangerous neighborhoods. She launched innovative programs like Operation Positive Direction, a mentoring program that empowers at-risk students through tutoring, community service, and positive incentives. She also launched Operation Free Palms, a project focusing on rejuvenating Orlando’s most crime-ridden housing complex. By focusing on unorthodox strategies like financial literacy, building playgrounds, a GED program, and job skills training, she improved the quality of life in Orlando\u2019s most distressed community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It was a tough path, and tougher still in the 80s for a woman and Black American in a profession that had few of either. But she determinedly pushed forward, graduating from the police academy as class president, receiving the Board of Trustees\u2019 Award for Overall Excellence, and earning the reputation of a bold, creative … <\/p>\n