ORLANDO, Fla. — The historic city of Eatonville, which sits between Maitland and Winter Park in Orange County, went for more than five years without a full-time police chief. 

But those days ended when Stanley Murray was named chief of the Eatonville Police Department in early November.

What You Need To Know

  • The historic city of Eatonville went without a full-time police chief for more than five years

  • Stanley Murray was sworn in as chief of the Eatonville Police Department in early November

  • Murray was a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for 28 years and is a local pastor

  • Murray says he plans to expand the town's police force and make sure officers are paid competitively

Murray said he has to work quickly to make sure the Eatonville Police Department is ready for a city that’s rapidly growing thanks to new development — one that he says could soon double the town’s population and increase the demand on his department.

“The time is now, we really don’t have time to waste," he said. "We’ve got to take every day seriously, but at the same time, enjoy the ride."

Murray has already had quite the journey. He was a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for 28 years, where he spent much of his time focused on empowering citizens to prevent crime.

“I spent over half my career making sure people understood how to keep locks, lighting and landscaping — a major part of how their house can be safe,” he said.

As police chief, Murray manages a dozen officers, but he hopes to eventually double the size of the city's police force.

“We now have the great opportunity to make sure we’re ahead of the game, rather than trying to result to catching up," Murray said. "That’s the worst thing you can try to do as a police department, is try to catch up with your population."

But to build his force, he knows he’ll need the financial support of town leaders to help him keep officer wages competitive.

“We’re going to need to be competitive with those neighboring agencies who also are trying to keep their people as well," Murray said. "And keeping the right people is really the goal."

Before joining law enforcement, Murray traveled the world serving in the navy. Now, along with being chief of police, he’s also a local pastor. 

“I’ve been blessed to do a lot in a short period of time,” said Murray.

He believes his leadership experience prepared him for this opportunity.

“When I got here, I could tell that this was where I was meant to be, and it was destined long before I even thought about it,” Murray said. “So, taking the opportunity, I don’t want to take it for granted.”

With all of his experience and plans for his department, Murray said his focus will always center around Eatonville’s identity as the oldest African-American settled town in the country — and the needs of its oldest, and newest, residents.

“I think we always have to be reminded of the rich history that this town was founded with,” he said. "As we move forward in the years in life, we still have to remember people came here because they believed that this was a place they could be valued, a place they could do the things other Americans can do.”

Murray says one of his goals is to replace the town’s old police building with an emergency operations center that can accommodate training for his officers, as well as help the city during major storms.