Welcome to Orlando!
Orlando Police Department's Chief of Police, Orlando Rolón, will welcome the group and offer opening remarks.
Biography
With more Orlando Rolón was born in Puerto Rico, and his family moved to Central Florida on two separate occasions. The first was in 1973 for a year and a half, and in 1977 when they moved permanently. He lived in the City of Orlando Engelwood neighborhood during his childhood where he attended Stonewall Jackson Middle and Colonial High School.
During his career at the Orlando Police Department he has worked or supervised in the four Department Bureaus; Patrol Services Bureau, Administrative Services Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Special Services Bureau. He has worked or supervised in nine of the Department’s eleven Divisions. He understood early on in his career the importance of working in as many different areas of the Department as possible. His experience includes understanding the different needs in the six commissioner districts of the City of Orlando, and working directly for the Mayor where he learned to navigate through the work setting of elected officials.
Rolón has lived in this community since junior high school and during the past 41 years, has seen Orlando transform into the world-class city it is today. He can relate to some of the challenges youth in economically disadvantage neighborhoods are facing today, but he is living proof that hard work and perseverance can overcome challenges. He has seen things that shock the righteous, but he has also seen the best humanity can offer when others find themselves in need of care and support. The kind people of this city/region makes him proud to serve and be part of this community.
His father has always worked in the field of construction and his mother is a fulltime homemaker who raised four boys and a girl. He grew up in a lower middle-income household, but his parents instilled in him the importance of hard work, honesty and integrity. His father served in the Army, his brother in the Navy and he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. The United States Marines’ values are Courage, Honor, and Integrity, which he has applied through all endeavors of his adult life. Strength through teamwork is at the core of every Marine, but equally as important, they are expected to learn to lead.
On November 8, 1992, he began his career with the City of Orlando Police Department and has served under the leadership of eight Chiefs of Police. During his career, he served a combined total of 11 years as part of the Chief’s Executive Staff.
Rolón has served as Deputy Chief of Police for four years. Nearly two years, as the Administrative Services Bureau Commander, and over two years in his current position of Patrol Services Bureau Commander. Over forty percent of the Department’s sworn staff is assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau.
He is married to Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón and credits her with the person and professional he is today. He has a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren. Rolón and his wife Giorgina feel privileged to be part of a City where the Mayor and his leadership team are always leading the region in ways to help the most vulnerable. He is a founding member of the National Latino Peace Officer Association Central Florida Chapter, an organization that promotes equality and professionalism in law enforcement. In August 2018, he was selected to be part of the YMCA Teen Achievers Central Florida Board of Directors.
Rolón has been trusted to serve in supervisory, management, and executive management levels during the past twenty years. Five years as a supervisor, eleven years as Section or Division Commander and over four years as a Bureau Chief.
He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development Course, the coveted FBI National Academy, Major Cities Chiefs Association Police Executive Leadership Institute (PELI IV), Mayor’s Executive Leadership Class, Florida Police Chiefs Association Future Chief’s Seminar, and the FBI Florida Executive Development Seminar.
With five years of experience as the Department’s first bilingual spokesperson, and nearly two decades doing media interviews, Rolón has extensive experience working with radio, print, and television media. During the Pulse Tragedy, Rolón participated in many interviews in Spanish for local, state, national, and international media outlets. One of the most difficult tasks for Rolón during the Pulse Tragedy was assisting Orlando Health Management staff with briefings for families and friends of the victim affected by the tragedy. Rolón accompanied the Hospital Staff, translated, and delivered the briefing information in Spanish.
Rolón served nearly 20 years as part of the Crisis Negotiation Team and served as the Team Commander before his appointment to Chief of Police. He was part of the Crisis Negotiation Team during the John Armstrong Hostage Incident. One of his proudest moments was his deployment to Puerto Rico with members of the Orlando Police Department to assist with Hurricane Irma and Maria recovery efforts.
Orlando Rolón is a member of FBI National Academy Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Central Florida Criminal Justice Association, YMCA Teen Achievers of Central Florida Board, and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.