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ORLANDO, Fla. — In honor of the Annual Day of Giving at the University of Central Florida, the Orlando Police Department announced a $75,000 endowment to help boost recruitment, while also encouraging students to pursue an interest in criminal justice.
The funding comes from both OPD and the Orlando Police foundation and will fund a pair of scholarships for students in both the criminal justice and legal studies programs. Officials say UCF has already played a major role in recruitment for the department, with many of the university’s alumni serving in positions ranging from officers to civilian staff.
Joe Nunziata, who is the chairman of the Orlando Police foundation, shared the big announcement and said he believes it’ll be a big help to OPD and UCF.
“We really feel based on our mission to help support law enforcement that this will help the department staff properly and help to bring in good interns into the program,” he said.
Officials at UCF said they believe this partnership will help students expand their talents and interests, while encouraging them to pursue careers that will directly impact their community.
Outside of UCF though, OPD is also extending its recruitment efforts beyond the state of Florida. New hires can earn up to $8,000 in bonuses when they’re hired, along with other incentives based on experience and education level.
