Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith reveals downtown crime and safety statistics

The City of Orlando held a workshop on May 19, 2025, focusing on public safety and crime statistics in downtown Orlando. Chief of Police Eric Smith presented a detailed overview of the challenges and efforts made by the Orlando Police Department (OPD) to maintain safety in the area.

Chief Smith began by emphasizing the importance of safety in downtown Orlando, noting his personal commitment to the area by spending one night each week patrolling. He shared statistics from May 2024 to February 2025, highlighting significant law enforcement activities. During this period, OPD made over 1,500 arrests, seized 77 illegal firearms, and encountered 335 legal firearms. The department also reported handling 236 fights and 548 disturbances, alongside conducting nearly 5,700 suspicious person stops.

The chief pointed out that despite the recent law changes allowing legal firearm carry, the number of firearms seized remains high, with a notable incident involving a legally carried handgun. He noted that 33% of officer-involved shootings occurred in downtown Orlando, underscoring the area's challenges.

Staffing was another critical topic. Chief Smith revealed that maintaining safety in downtown requires a substantial police presence, costing approximately $61,000 for on-duty staffing each weekend and an additional $51,000 for extra duty staffing. The total staffing cost for downtown was reported to be around $6 million, with the need for between 81 and 131 officers to cover just eight blocks. This is in stark contrast to the citywide average of 98 patrol officers.

Comparative crime statistics were also shared, showing that downtown Orlando has significantly higher crime rates than other entertainment areas like International Drive and Universal CityWalk. Over the past year, downtown had 63 more arrests, 91% more gun seizures, and 93% more violent crimes compared to International Drive, and similar trends were noted against Universal CityWalk.

To address these issues, the OPD has implemented various public safety measures, including partial and full road closures, increased surveillance through cameras and license plate readers, and enhanced officer staffing. Additionally, the department has engaged with local bars and nightclubs to address drug-related complaints, resulting in the operation "Nightcap," which led to 85 charges against 32 suspects across 23 establishments.

The workshop concluded with a commitment from the OPD to continue its proactive efforts to ensure the safety of downtown Orlando, highlighting the ongoing challenges and the need for community collaboration in addressing crime.