Federal grant will provide more deputies in Orange County

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The Orange County Commission agreed to accept $2.5 million from the federal government to create positions for twenty new deputies at the Orange County Sheriff’s office.

In order to receive the COPS Hiring Program Award, the sheriff’s office is required to commit a cash match $2,313,889.00.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings asked for the money, explaining that the 20 new patrol officers are need to keep up with a growing tourist population, but a sheriff’s spokesman said the new deputies won’t just be dispatched to the attractions. 

“All those unincorporated areas of the county are going to be served by these deputies as part of a bigger groundswell of deputies that we’re currently doing,” said Capt. Angelo Nieves. 

The twenty new deputies need to be hired and trained.