Key Assets:

• Pioneering leadership that shepherded a large police force through budget cuts without a reduction in officers on the streets while simultaneously realizing a 40 percent reduction in violent crimes
• Was one of seven impeachment managers who argued the case to remove the president during the U.S. Senate trial
• Serves on the House Intelligence, Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, and is vice chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Val Deming, (Fla.-10th district) served as chief of police in Orlando, Florida. She made history as the first woman to be appointed to that role. 

Demings earned a B.S. in criminology from Florida State University, and she began her career in Jacksonville as a social worker, where she worked with foster children. Despite seeing few women in the ranks of law enforcement in the early 1980s, Demings was inspired to move to Orlando to join the police force. She graduated from the police academy as class president, receiving the Board of Trustees’ Award for overall excellence.

Demings’ reputation for being a tenacious cop led to her rise in law enforcement while raising a family. During her 27-year-career, she served in virtually every department, including Special Operations where, as Commander, she was responsible for some of Orlando’s highest profile tasks, including dignitary protection. During her leadership, Demings founded a mentoring program for at-risk youth called Operation Positive Direction, and she launched Operation Free Palms, a collaboration with city officials, faith leaders and community residents to rejuvenate the Palms Apartments, a crime-riddled housing complex. 

Demings holds an honorary doctorate of laws from Bethune-Cookman University, and she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Orlando Chapter of the Links, Inc., NAACP Silver Life Member, Florida Bar Citizens Advisory Committee, Florida Police Chiefs, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, and the National Congress of Black Women.