ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport is considering forming its own police department, a move that would shift security duties away from Orlando police within the next decade, officials said.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority board opened discussions on the proposal on Wednesday.
Local perspective:
The plan would create a dedicated law-enforcement agency serving only MCO. Airport leaders said the transition would be phased in over about four years and would require coordination with the Orlando Police Department and the city.
“We continually evaluate how to best meet the evolving needs of our passengers, employees and stakeholders,” airport officials said in a statement, adding that the authority is in the early stages and is only seeking approval to study the transition.
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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, a board member and former Orlando police chief, urged airport leaders to ensure any new department can coordinate with other agencies during emergencies.
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Travelers offered mixed reactions, with some saying they did not expect major differences as long as law enforcement remains visible and effective.
Airport officials said operating an in-house police department is expected to cost about the same as the current partnership with Orlando police.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
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Tiny cross in Florida yard sparks yearslong legal battle, ends with six-figure settlement
THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) — A five-year dispute over a 12-inch cross displayed in a resident’s front yard has ended with a settlement totaling nearly $250,000, bringing closure to a long-running fight over community rules in The Villages.
Wayne Anderson and his wife said they spent years defending the small white cross, which they consider a religious symbol. An anonymous complaint filed in 2019 claimed the cross violated community standards that prohibit lawn ornaments. Anderson argued the rule was being selectively enforced, noting that many neighbors display similar crosses.
After the complaint, the couple received a warning and then a $25 daily fine that grew to about $44,000. Village Community Development District 8, which oversees Anderson’s neighborhood, later sued, alleging the couple had three prohibited lawn ornaments.
This week, district officials approved a settlement requiring District 8 to pay $173,000 in legal fees and court costs, plus $70,000 to the Andersons. The agreement also allows the cross to remain in the yard as long as it is affixed at the center of the property.
“In the end, we get to display, as is our constitutional and God-given right,” Anderson said, adding that the case “should never have happened.” He has since joined the district’s governing board in hopes of preventing similar disputes.
Orange County NewsOrlando NewsOrlando International Airport (MCO)