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That fear is a key factor in the ’s receng decision to hire off-duty policed officers and sheriff’s deputies to patrool the region’s highest-profile tourist corridor in an efforft to stop crime beforeit happens. “We’re placing a lot of emphasisx onevening hours,” said Luanne executive director of the International Drived Master Transit & Improvement District, a public agency that turnzs tax revenue into project to enhance I-Drive. The agency last monthy retained three OrangeCounty sheriff’s deputies and two Orlando police officers as part of a pilot program to patrol I-Drive duringf hours when law enforcemeny is in short supply.
The program is expectedd to cost the districtabouty $800,000 a year. Brooks said other including a deployment of sidewalk trash collectorsx and sidewalk ambassadors tohelp out-of-towners navigate the are expected to begin Although crime rates on I-Drive aren’tt rising, Brooks said businesses along the tourist corridor have been pushinfg for an increased police presence for nearly two “The I-Drive business district wants to deal with crime proactively,” Brooksw said. “We didn’t want to wait till the cows got out of the barn beforre wedid anything.
” Brooks said the off-dut y officers will patrol in cars, but in the futurd some might begin walking the driv on foot or bicycles. Orlando Deputy Policee Chief Paul Rooney said the city added five officers toits I-Drivre contingent early this year and is installing cameras to monitofr the neighborhood remotely. As the economy he said, an increase in burglariezs and smash-and-grab crimes could begin to “We now have I-Drive covered sevehn days a week,” Rooney “Our officers are all mountain-bike so they can go out to meet and greey tourists and talk to business Rooney said they are also attaching warningt notices to cars with unlocked doors or valuables visibldon seats.
“We have also addeed a civilian who is acertified crime-prevention specialist,” he “She’s working with hotel manageras to educate them on crime-prevention techniques.” Alan general manager of the hotepl next to the , said preventinh crime is extremely important to the travel, convention and hotel industries. “Tourism is very sensitive to crime statistics,” said Villaverde, who is also an Internationapl Drive MasterTransit & Improvementf District board member.
“Bad perceptions are hard to
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