Police Hiring, Training, And Disciplinary Requirements In Orlando, Florida

Police hiring, training, and discipline


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This page provides an overview of policies related to the hiring, training, and discipline of police officers in Orlando, Fla. It is part of an analysis of police union collective bargaining agreements and related arrangements with police unions concerning hiring, training, and disciplinary requirements in the 50 states and top 100 cities by population.

Background[edit]

Ballotpedia in 2023 examined the collective bargaining agreements, statutes, and regulatory codes governing the 50 states and the top 100 US cities by population through the lens of a series of research questions related to police hiring, training, and discipline.

Some of the hiring, training, and discipline standards for police officers not established by statutes or regulations arise from negotiations with police unions. Those negotiations are often codified in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Those agreements are the contracts that states and cities sign following negotiations with police unions. Some states and cities restrict collective bargaining, but may still negotiate with police unions using other methods. After negotiating with the unions, those jurisdictions sometimes establish police standards through documents including memoranda of understanding or meet and confer agreements.

Results[edit]

The tables below link to each question Ballotpedia used to analyze the states and cities and indicate how Orlando handles police hiring, training, and discipline. To see the provisions Ballotpedia used to support these results, click here.

CBA basics[edit]

CBA basics	Results
Is there a CBA with the police union?	YES
Is the current CBA publicly available online?	NO

Discipline and accountability[edit]

Discipline and accountability	Results
Does the CBA forbid the transfer or reassignment of an officer as a form of discipline?	NO
Do officers have a right to request third-party arbitration for grievances, including over disciplinary actions?	YES
Condition: Certain disciplinary action may be subject to the grievance/arbitration procedure; Selection: Both parties must agree to an arbitrator by alternately striking names from a list of provided names; Provider: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; Arbitrator authority: The arbitrator's decision is final and binding
Does the CBA contain provisions related to discipline for misconduct?	YES
Primary discipline authority: City of Orlando, Police Department; Types: Oral reprimand, written censure, suspension without pay, demotion, termination; Restricted aspects: N/A; Challenge/appeal process: Union grievance procedure Employee has right to representation at any interrogation. Suspension without pay shall not exceed 240 work hours. Employee may forfeit accrued time in lieu of suspension provided the violation "does not involve indebtedness to the city."
Does the CBA explicitly allow for a state ombudsman outside particular police departments to hold law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct?	NO

Legal limitations or provisions[edit]

Legal limitations or provisions	Results
Does the city CBA prohibit felons from becoming law enforcement officers?	NO
Employees arrested or charged with a felony or designated misdemeanor who aren't terminated may be reassigned. Those convicted of felonies will be terminated.
Are there any statutes or regulations that prohibit collective bargaining with police unions?	NO

===Training and counseling===

Training and counseling	Results
Does the CBA require or incentivize college or post-secondary education?	YES
Allows employees to receive tuition reimbursement up to $1,800 per year
Does the CBA require or incentivize law enforcement officers to learn first aid skills?	NO
Does the CBA have provisions related to firearms training?	YES
Required/voluntary: N/A; Frequency: Twice annually; Type of training: N/A The city must provide what the CBA refers to as adequate firearms training
Does the CBA have provisions related to training with tasers or other nonlethal weapons?	NO
Does the CBA require law enforcement officers to learn any martial arts?	NO
Does the CBA require law enforcement officers to submit to regular psychological counseling/evaluation?	NO
Psychological examination is required after a layoff
Does the state/city CBA require law enforcement officers to do driving training regularly?	NO
"the City will attempt to enhance driver training techniques for new employees, to remediate those who may require special training, and expand overall vehicular safety programs."
Does the state/city CBA require law enforcement officers to do driving training regularly?	NO
"the City will attempt to enhance driver training techniques for new employees, to remediate those who may require special training, and expand overall vehicular safety programs."
Does the CBA require law enforcement officers to take regular mental health training?	NO

Community relations and oversight[edit]

Community relations and oversight	Results
Does the CBA reference citizen review boards?	YES
Board name: Citizen Review Board City may establish board, but it cannot impose or modify disciplinary actions against employees.
Does the CBA have provisions related to community policing?	YES
Mentions Community Relations Officers

Investigations[edit]

Investigations	Results
Does the CBA contain provisions related to misconduct investigations?	YES
Procedure for investigation and types of discipline
Does the CBA require notice to officers of investigations?	YES
Conditions: Written notice; Timeline: N/A; Content: Must include the nature of the investigation; copy of complaint; name of all complainants; name, rank and command of investigator; and the names of interviewers.
Does the CBA determine a timeline for investigations?	NO
Does the CBA contain provisions related to compensation during misconduct investigations?	YES
Employees may be relieved of duty or reassigned pending investigation. If an employee is found not guilty they will be awarded backpay, however, if an employee is found guilty or pleads guilty to a lesser offense will not receive backpay.

Evidence and records[edit]

Evidence and records

Results

Does the CBA have provisions related to the use of body-worn cameras or body-worn camera video evidence?

NO

Does the CBA regulate processes for retaining officer disciplinary records?

YES

Record storage: N/A;

Storage authority: N/A; Types of records: Oral reprimand, written censure, suspension; Timeline: "Sustained" findings are removed from the employee's personnel file after one year and placed in an Internal Affairs disciplinary file, in accordance with Florida State Statutes. Oral reprimand or written censure are removed after 3 years; suspension of less than 32 hours is removed after 5 years; and suspension of more than 32 hours is removed after 7 years; Access and use: N/A;

Use in decisions: N/A

Qualifications and evaluation[edit]

Qualifications and evaluation

Results

Does the CBA require performance evaluations?

YES

Required annually

Evaluations filed in personnel history folders; evaluations used for promotions and merit pay

Does the CBA restrict licensing procedures for law enforcement officers or departments?

NO

Union authority[edit]

Union authority	Results
Does the CBA limit union authority to pay and benefits issues?	NO
Does the CBA give the union the power to approve or disapprove new training programs for law enforcement officers?	NO
Does the CBA have provisions involving the union in the process for promotions, unit assignments, and transfers?	NO
City retains right to hire, promote, transfer