Orlando may be one of the hottest tourist destinations in the country, but that doesn’t stop it from also holding the dubious title as one of the most crime-ridden cities in Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Orlando’s crime rate was up 4.8 percent in 2011 over 2010, with 8,156 crimes per 100,000 residents. It’s no secret that Orlando’s crime is due, in large part, to the drug epidemic plaguing this city like so many other Florida cities.
Individuals seeking DEA careers in Orlando can glean a considerable amount of information on the importance of the DEA here simply by viewing recent headlines:
- February 2013: The vice president of a car dealership in Orlando was sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in drug trafficking for the Gulf drug cartel. The individual was charged with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and with engaging in money laundering.
- December 2012: Two Florida men were sentenced to heroin conspiracy. The DEA Miami Field Division announced that both men were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy of possessing (with the intent to distribute) 1.2 kilograms of heroin.
- November 2012: An Orlando man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for trafficking oxycodone. His arrest involved the seizure of more than $29,000 in cash and 2,000 oxycodone pills.
- November 2012: A former Orlando nurse was sentenced to 6 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute oxycodone.
- October 2012: Three family members in Orlando were charged with possessing with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine following an investigation by the DEA Miami Field Division.
- September 2012: An Orlando man was convicted of heroin conspiracy for possessing with the intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin.
How to Become a DEA Agent in Orlando by Meeting Requirements
In Orlando, DEA jobs can be found both in the Orlando Field Office and in the Miami Field Division, which oversees the Orlando Field Office, as well as numerous other field offices throughout the state. Training is strict through the DEA for its special agent workforce, and it usually begins with a four-year degree. Further, hiring requirements are also rather strict, as candidates must take and pass a number of tests, such as psychological assessments, written tests, and polygraph tests, just to name a few.
Learning how to become a DEA agent in Orlando and qualifying for DEA training is usually accomplished by earning a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, or a specialized law degree such as a J.D. or LL. B. Most DEA special agents possess at least a four-year degree and come from backgrounds in such varied fields as: accounting, engineering, political science, criminal justice, military, and law enforcement, among others.