Orlando Police Department Preparedness Enhancement Project

The City of Orlando Police Department will use funding provided by the BJA FY24 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to purchase equipment and supplies for its Digital Forensics Lab (DFL) and a small contingent of SWAT officers forming its SWAT Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Team. The funding provided will ensure that DFL and SWAT HAZMAT have the equipment necessary to identify, retrieve, secure, and share digital evidence, reduce associated backlogs, and respond quickly and safely to hazardous events involving drugs, toxic chemicals, and in case of terrorism. The hardware, software, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will ensure the success of OPD’s overall project goal to enhance preparedness and align with its strategic planning mission to “Keep Orlando a safe city by reducing crime and maintaining livable neighborhoods.” Additionally, this project will affirm OPD’s strategic planning vision to strive to be a model agency with advancements in technology and investigative efforts. The main objectives of the FY24 OPD Preparedness Enhancement Project are to improve the quality and timeliness of criminal investigations and the efficiency and safety of hazardous material responses encountered during everyday calls for service. The deliverables to be achieved will include the retrieval and analysis of data involved in digital investigations associated with various violent crimes encountered during drug-related investigations and as a result of intentional and accidental incidents of dangerous exposure to toxic substances and materials. The project will also align with the primary objective of the JAG Program to provide critical funding to support law enforcement activities, including much-needed equipment, supplies, and information systems for criminal justice purposes.