OAKLAND, FL — The Oakland Police Department is proud to welcome Darron T. Esan as its new police chief. Chief Esan brings 26 years of law enforcement experience and recently retired from the Orlando Police Department at the rank of Lieutenant.
“I am looking forward to the challenges of leading the Oakland Police Department,” he said. “I have a strong desire to emphasize the principles of Community Oriented Policing and plan to be involved within the community while also remaining available to our citizens.”
While with the Orlando Police Department, Chief Esan served as a Field Training Officer and a Criminal Investigator before being promoted to Sergeant in 2006. As a Sergeant, Chief Esan was assigned to and supervised units within Patrol, Community Involvement (Downtown Bikes Unit), Neighborhood Patrol Unit, Uniform Drug Unit, CID – Robbery, and CID – Homicide. There, he was able to create and supervise the first multi-jurisdictional task force in Central Florida related to the investigation of Homicide, the Joint Homicide Investigation Team (JHIT), falling under the 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
Chief Esan was promoted to Lieutenant in 2014 and commanded sections within Uniform Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Division, Criminal Investigations Division – Property Section, Criminal Investigations Division – Violent Crimes Section, and at the Orlando International Airport. Previously, Chief Esan served as a Hostage Negotiator and retired as the Team Commander of the Emergency Services Unit.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida State University in 1996. After graduation, he began his law enforcement career with the Tallahassee Police Department, where he served for three years. Chief Esan left TPD after being hired by the Orlando Police Department in May of 1999.
Chief Esan obtained Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville in 2017. Since achieving this degree, Chief Esan teaches as an Adjunct Professor with Valencia College, as well as with Southwestern College in Wichita, Kansas. Chief Esan has a passion for teaching and enjoys developing curricula which pertains to the law enforcement profession, specifically addressing areas such as Leadership and Communication.
