Sunshine Sentinel

In September 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, which devasted several communities across the state and was the

deadliest hurricane to strike the state since 1935. Sanibel Island was among the hardest hit, where some of its neighborhoods were reduced to rubble and

the power grid decimated.

As a result of the storm, Sanibel Island was in dire need of assistance from outside resources and agencies to aid in their recovery. The Orlando Police

Department assisted by sending a total of 30 sworn officers over the course of four weeklong deployments.

The Officers who deployed assisted with manning checkpoints on the island, routine patrol, and helped residents with anything they needed. They worked

12-hour shifts for seven straight days, covering dayshift & midnights, and slept in trailers. They sacrificed time away from their families and friends during

the holiday season.

For their dedication, hard work, and outstanding performance during the deployment, these members are awarded the Orlando Police Department Unit

Citation.

Original source can be found here.