Uptown Altamonte Unit

With the rapid growth of commercial and mixed-use projects in Uptown Altamonte, and a major renovation of Cranes Roost Park, the City recognized the importance of establishing beat policing in the area early on.  Already famous as the destination in Central Florida for the Red,Hot and Boom fireworks and live entertainment show every July 3rd, Cranes Roost attracts thousands weekly for a lunchtime or evening stroll on its beautiful boardwalks.

The renovated Eddie Rose amphitheatre and newly created Plaza allowed the City to expand the number of weekly events in the park.  This, coupled with the new high-rise condominium and luxury apartments, and the mixture of retail, dining, and professional office space surrounding the area, ensured a steadily increasing number of patrons, and brought a requirement for higher visibility beat policing.

In 2006, the Police Department dedicated a lieutenant and two officers to establish beat policing and bicycle patrols in Uptown Altamonte.  The unit would also be responsible for coordinating police services for the many specialized events in the park, working closely with the City’s Events Management staff.  In 2007, a reorganization of personnel in the Police Department allowed for the addition of two more officers to the unit for better coverage throughout the week. 

The lieutenant and four officers use police mountain bicycles, marked police cars, and foot patrols to ensure a high quality of life and safety for those living, working, or visiting Uptown Altamonte.  Their main duties are to provide high visibility patrol, both on foot and bicycle, throughout the Uptown District, and to be active in both the Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs. The officers educate residents and businesses on the need to report suspicious activity, forming a partnership of “eyes and ears” to create an atmosphere intolerant of criminal activity.

Lt. Chris Willett

CTWillett@altamonte.org

(407) 571-8290