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Orlando chief who led police during Pulse shooting elected sheriff

 
Orlando Chief of Police John Mina, left, looks on as Hillary Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine (far right) visits a memorial site at Pulse, the gay club where 49 were killed in a mass shooting in June, in Orlando on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Accompanying him are Gabby Giffords and husband Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. [Times files]
Orlando Chief of Police John Mina, left, looks on as Hillary Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine (far right) visits a memorial site at Pulse, the gay club where 49 were killed in a mass shooting in June, in Orlando on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Accompanying him are Gabby Giffords and husband Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. [Times files]
Published Nov. 7, 2018

ORLANDO — The police chief who led the Orlando Police Department during the Pulse nightclub massacre has been elected sheriff of Orange County.

John Mina ran as an Independent, defeating two candidates Tuesday in the race replace Jerry Demings, the mayor-elect of Orlando.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Mina will lead the largest law enforcement agency in central Florida, with a $250 million budget and about 2,600 full-time employees.

Mina campaigned on his four-year tenure as police chief. He originally joined the Orlando Police Department in 1991 and served various roles before becoming chief in 2014.

Mina's opponents criticized his record throughout the campaign, including claims that his officers used excessive force.

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