Orange County will become a police state before this year is over if Orlando’s downtown powerbrokers have their way. In a police state, what average people want does not matter. Just like in North Korea, the rulers do what they want. The rulers in a police state have the juice to shut down opposition financially, politically…and otherwise. Back in the 1970s  Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo , a former racist police chief, ruled that city. It was not pretty. This commentary is not an exaggeration or a parody. This is for real! Here is what’s happening right now. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings is running to become the next Orange County Mayor. Next to the Orlando Mayor (more on that in a moment), the Orange County Mayor is the most influential politician in Central Florida. Orlando Police Chief John Mina is running to become the next Orange County Sheriff. The sheriff leads the largest and best-equipped law enforcement agency in Central Florida. ...

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 hel...

Orlando City Hall doesn’t care what you think about the next person selected to become Orlando Police Chief. Even though city officials around the nation – including Orlando – claim they want to improve relations between the police and communities of color – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will likely make the hiring decision on his own without discussion with the community. OPD's new HQ “The police chief is an appointed position and like all other appointed positions, he is appointed at the discretion of the mayor,” the mayor’s spokeswoman said. “Chief (John) Mina is still Orlando’s police chief,” the spokeswoman continued. “Until, or if that changes, Mayor Dyer is not speculating on what future decisions he will make.” Despite those comments, Chief Mina has expressed his interest in running for election to replace Sheriff Jerry Demings. Demings, a former Orlando police chief, has already committed to run for election as Orange County Mayor. Voters will select th...