ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Rolón is the first Puerto Rican to serve as a Deputy Chief for the Orlando Police Department. 

“Orlando is becoming a melting pot from all over the world,” said Deputy Chief Rolón about the city he’s called home for many years. 

Rolón remembered when he first moved to Orlando from Puerto Rico in the 1970s as a little boy. He said learning English was a bit difficult, but he picked up on it quickly. 

“I remember us as kids playing with other kids, and actually watching for the cues. If we saw other kids laughing, that gives us the cue like, ‘hey we should laugh.’ I had no idea what they were talking about, but it worked,” Rolón remembered. 

At first, joining law enforcement was not part of his life plan.

“I worked in the construction industry and in 1992, a buddy of mine stayed on top of me to try to apply and convince me to apply,” he laughed as he recalled how he became a police officer. “And I did, and it was the best decision I could’ve made.”

During his more than 20 years in law enforcement, Rolón has met a couple of U.S. presidents, including President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton.

He’s also had the pleasure of working big events in the City Beautiful, such as the World Cup in 1994.

Most recently, he worked what he believes has been the most tragic moment yet -- the Pulse massacre on June 12, 2016. 

That morning after Pulse, Rolón would translate the news in Spanish to friends and families of the victims and at times, the news was not good.

“To see the facial expressions of the people as the names were being called out and see that pain and agony -- I was basically looking at a flood of people distraught, and seeing that actually affected me to the point that we’re supposed to be tough, we’re supposed to be strong … I almost came to tears,” he remembered.

Today, Rolón sees Orlando as one big diverse city, who’s fought for inclusiveness, peace and happiness -- a city that brought him the love of his life straight from Venezuela.

“I don’t know what I did to earn the gift from the heavens, which is my wife Giorgina,” he said with a smile.

He joked as much as he loves his wife, he’s not absolutely convinced with Venezuelan food and prefers a delicious Puerto Rican “arroz con gandules” for dinner. 

Deputy Chief Rolon is proud of his Hispanic heritage and proud to call the City Beautiful home.

“Everytime something happens, the community comes to support us and does everything they can to make us feel appreciated,” he said.

Rolón can’t wait to continue serving his community for years to come.