All OPD patrol officers now have body cameras

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All Orlando patrol officers now have bodycams.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina shared that news last week during the Orlando Citizens Review Board. That board evaluates internal investigations and citizen complaints about police officers.

In the wake of high profile police shootings and brutality complaints throughout the United States and Central Florida, the public has been clamoring for all police officers to be equipped with the cameras to record police incidents.

The Orlando police pledged to deploy the cameras to patrol officers a year ago.

Due to administrative problems within the department, all OPD patrol officers were not outfitted with the cameras until now. By contrast, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office deployed the cameras to its patrol officers two years ago.

The lack of OPD body cameras proved to be a major problem early this year when helicopter footage showed an officer kick murder suspect Markieth Loyd in the head when he was captured.

The helicopter video showed Loyd, who was unarmed, crawl on his belly out of a house to surrender to officers. One of the officers ran up to Loyd and kicked him in the head. Arresting officers said Loyd was clicked because he was not cooperating with them.

Click here to see the video of bloodied Loyd being brought into police headquarters, followed by Chief Mina who was all smiles.

The kick was so severe that Loyd had to be hospitalized for several days and he lost one of his eyes.

Mina told the review board that the cameras have been issued to 435 patrol officers. Click here to see Chief Mina discuss the cameras with the review board.

The chief said he hopes to use body camera video to showcase praiseworthy work by officers.

For more news, click www.32805OrlNews.com 




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