ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department officially opened its new headquarters Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The 96,000-square-foot facility has been under construction for months at the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and South Street.
"Good things come to those who wait. Our officers had to wait, our community had to wait, but we are extremely happy this building is open now," said OPD Chief John Mina.
Mayor Buddy Dyer emphasized that the new OPD headquarters is made for the community.The department said the station is state-of-the-art, and new technology inside the building will help officers better protect the community.
"This new home of OPD was made for you to make a connection with our officers and to make our officers more accessible to the community and our residents," Dyer said.
The new facility will be much more than a police headquarters. It is a place where youth can be mentored, community meetings can be held and seniors can be trained for citizens police academy, Dyer said.
The visitors parking lot serve as an e-commerce safe zone that is monitored by 24-hour surveillance.
The site of the new headquarters was the former site of Holden Street Elementary the city's first school for African American students.
David Brewer, a former student at the school, never expected the city's police to be headquartered there.
"Of course not! That was what, over 60 years ago. But things change," he said."I see this neighborhood really becoming more of a middle-class neighborhood in the next 10 to 20 years.
Orlando police Chief John Mina said that in the new headquarters, there is a special room devoted to computer forensics to help protect digital evidence.
'I'm told we are one of the only agencies in the entire southeastern United States with such a room," Mina said.
Police think the new location will give people easier access to them. Plus, they hope it will help revitalize the area.
"I think having this building here with officers here around the clock is going to continue to decrease crime," Mina added.
Both the Mina and Dyer expressed the community that came together in after the death of Lt. Debra Clayton, who was allegedly shot and killed by Markeith Loyd.
"In the coming months, there will be an interactive display with photos of our officers that have been killed in the line of duty and their stories of bravery," Mina said.
Additionally, there will be a memorial to honor the Pulse victims.