As the city struggles with the fallout from its law enforcement scandals, Kissimmee has welcomed a new mayor and commissioners. Longtime local and community member Jackie Espinosa was sworn in yesterday with pledges to restore the public’s confidence in the Kissimmee Police Department. The inauguration follows significant wrongdoing in the police force, including a reported use-of-force incident by former officer Andrew Baseggio in 2022, according to WESH.
The previous administration’s tense relationship with accountability is impeding Espinosa’s and the new city commissioners’ ability to perform their duties. It appears that this change in leadership is an effort to drastically reallocate funds and focus on repairing a shattered sense of community. We are working on resolving a few difficulties. Espinosa said at the swearing-in event, “They were brought to the attention of our administration,” according to WESH.
The mayor has suggested reviving the police department’s dissolved Citizens’ Review Board in response to the oversight difficulty. The latest proposed board would still have the authority to examine and offer advice on police department policies and procedures, even if current state laws prohibit civilian boards from conducting direct investigations of law enforcement personnel. “Our acting police chief has a wealth of experience. He and our city manager will be in charge of that. According to FOX 35 Orlando, Mayor Espinosa stated in an interview that “I think we’ll bring in people to that board that are experienced and that understand the due process of law.”
There is still more to be done to promote openness and community involvement. The review board is welcomed by the new administration, which includes Interim Police Chief Major Robert Anzueto, as a means of improving communication and service to the people of Kissimmee. Anzueto was reported in the FOX 35 Orlando story as saying, “I think we could use it as a transparency for our agency and the community that we serve,”
Espinosa’s term begins with demands for involvement and change. Her goal is to create a sense of safety and community. The mayor’s extensive knowledge of the city’s diversity and her 33 years of residency in Kissimmee may be invaluable in her handling of these intricate problems.
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