Val Demings' Police Record Under Scrutiny as She Emerges as a Potential Biden VP Pick

Strategic Insights -

As a potential running mate for Joe Biden, Rep. Val Demings' three-year tenure as the chief of the Orlando Police Department has come under renewed scrutiny, particularly in light of Black Americans' ongoing struggles with law enforcement. Demings, a Black congresswoman from Florida, has argued that her law enforcement experience makes her a strong candidate to address the nation's racial justice concerns, while others have criticized her record as chief, pointing out that use of force climbed in the city since her tenure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Demings served as the chief of the Orlando Police Department from 2007 to 2011, a period during which the violent crime rate in Orlando fell more than 40%, according to FBI statistics.
  • Investigations by the Orlando Sentinel found that the Orlando Police Department used force 574 times during Demings' tenure, around 20% more than officers in similarly sized cities like Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  • Demings has defended her record as chief, but has acknowledged that she did not accomplish everything she had hoped to during her time in the role.
  • The congresswoman's tenure has also been marked by controversy, including a 2008 statement written by Demings in which she said that "looking for a negative story in a police department is like looking for a prayer at church. It won't take long to find one."
  • Demings has maintained a close relationship with her husband, Jerry Demings, who served as the Orange County sheriff during the same period that his wife was chief of police.
  • Demings' national profile rose significantly after she served as a Democratic impeachment manager earlier this year, and her stock has continued to rise in recent weeks as she has become a top contender for Biden's running mate.

Statistics:

  • 40%: the decrease in the violent crime rate in Orlando during Demings' tenure as chief of police
  • 574: the number of times the Orlando Police Department used force during Demings' tenure
  • 20%: the increase in the use of force by the Orlando Police Department compared to similarly sized cities
  • 1957: the year Demings was born
  • 1983: the year Demings joined the Orlando Police Department
  • 2007: the year Demings became the first woman to lead the Orlando Police Department
  • 2002: the year Jerry Demings stepped down as chief of police in Orlando
  • 2011: the year Demings retired from the police force

Sources:

  • CNN: "As Biden considers her for vice president, Val Demings' police record is getting renewed scrutiny"
  • Orlando Sentinel: "Orlando police use force 574 times during Demings' tenure"
  • The Dean Obeidallah Show: "Rep. Val Demings on being a potential VP pick"
  • The Late Late Show with Stephen Colbert: "Rep. Val Demings on being a potential VP pick"
  • National Action Network's Central Florida chapter: statement from Lawanna Gelzer, president
  • CBS News: "Rep. Val Demings on being a potential VP pick"
  • SiriusXM: "Rep. Val Demings on being a potential VP pick"