Behind the Star

Every year, the Orange County Sheriff's Office Communications Center receives more than a million phone calls. The center, located in east Orange County, is where more than 200 operators answer both emergency and non-emergency calls. This week, Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks with Cynthia Jefferson, a manager and 20-year veteran of the Communications Center. Jefferson talks about what happens when a resident calls 9-1-1, how information is relayed to OCSO deputies and how operators handle the stress of the job.

The Community Relations Division at the Orange County Sheriff's Office oversees more than a dozen agency initiatives, including community barbecues, award ceremonies and Citizens on Patrol. Lieutenant Alex Greenberg and Sergeant Menachem Green sat down with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker to discuss the role of Community Relations and how it's helping build trust in the Orange County community.

If there's a homicide in Orange County, several units within the Orange County Sheriff's Office are alerted. Two of those units - Strategic Communications and the Homicide Unit - work closely to release information to the public. How, what and when information is released is vital to any investigation. On this week's Behind the Star, host Jon Busdeker speaks with Captain Carlos Torres of Strategic Communications and Homicide Unit Sgt. Joe Covelli about releasing details of a homicide.

What is the role of the Undersheriff? Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks with Mark Canty, Undersheriff at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. A native of Central Florida and West Orange High School grad, Canty played football at Northwestern University and later worked for the Urban League of Central Florida. He spent 22 years at the Orlando Police Department before joining the Orange County Sheriff's Office in 2019.

Master Deputy Stanley Murray is the Chaplain Coordinator at the Orange County Sheriff's Officer. Murray oversees a team of more than 20 chaplains of various faiths at the agency. Murray sat down with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker to discuss the role of the chaplain and how chaplains respond to traumatic calls for help.

All eyes had been on Hurricane Dorian for nearly a week. A team of men and women at the Orange County Sheriff's Office were prepared for the impacts of the storm. Leading that team is Lt. Bill Bartlett, a veteran of OCSO who is in charge of Emergency Management. Before the storm passed Central Florida, Bartlett sat down with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker to discuss how OCSO prepares for an emergency.

Sgt. Danielle Batlemento has worked at the Orange County Courthouse for nearly 25 years. She is one of more than 150 men and women who keep the sprawling complex in downtown Orlando safe. Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks with Betlemento about the challenges of protecting attorneys, judges, juries and the public and what happens when someone "accidentally" brings drugs or firearms to the courthouse.

The Crime Scene Investigation Unit at the Orange County Sheriff's Office is on the front line of solving crimes in Orange County. Mikayla.Overholtzer and Missy Roughgarden, both Crime Scene Investigators, sit down with Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker to discuss what life's like working in Forensics. (Warning: This episode may contain information not suitable for all audiences.)

The new school year for Orange County Public Schools started this week, which means crossing guards are posted at crosswalks around the county. Bertis Negron is the School Guard Coordinator at the Orange County Sheriff's Office and supervises more than 400 employees. Behind the Star host Jon Busdeker talks to Negron how locations for crossing guards are determined, who applies for the job, what training the crossing guards must complete and where the crossing guards get their gear. If you are interested in becoming an OCSO crossing guard, apply at OCSO.com.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is always looking to hire deputies and civilians. As an agency that employs nearly 2,500 people, OCSO prides itself with hiring highly qualified candidates of the highest integrity for all positions. But what exactly are we looking for? That's the job of Field Recruiter Sgt. Steve Harrielson. Host Jon Busdeker talks to Harrielson about the requirements for sworn positions, how veterans make great deputies and how you can apply to the Sheriff's Office.

Follow the Orange County Sheriff's Office on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For more information, go to OCSO.com