Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
JSO patch
JSO badge
Abbreviation	JSO
Agency overview
Formed	1968;57 years ago (1968) [1]
Employees	3,032 (2020)
Annual budget	$482 million (2020) [2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	United States
Map of Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction
Legal jurisdiction	Duval County
Operational structure
Headquarters	501 E. Bay Street, Jacksonville, Florida
Sworn members	2,082 police officers 950 corrections officers
Unsworn members	800 civilians
Agency executive	T. K. Waters [3] , Sheriff
Website
www.jaxsheriff.org

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States. Duval County includes the incorporated cities of Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Jacksonville Beach, and Neptune Beach; the beach cities have their own police departments as well.

History

Jacksonville Police Department: 1822–1968

Police Chief A. J. Roberts with Mayor John W. Martin around 1923

The first sheriff to be appointed in Jacksonville was James Dell in 1822 when Duval County was incorporated.

A town ordinance in 1845 required all free males living in Jacksonville to participate in evening patrol duty.

From 1865 to 1869 law enforcement was enforced by the continued occupation of the Union Army and a provost marshal and guard.

A civilian marshal was appointed as head of the department in 1871, along with the creation of the captain of police rank. The mayor appointed the captain, who would then be confirmed by the city council. In 1887 the captain of police rank became known as chief of police. A new charter was also established in 1887, creating a board of police commissioners. The department was composed mostly of African Americans.

House Bill No. 4 was passed by the Florida State Legislature allowing the governor to abolish all offices in Jacksonville and to make new appointments to fill the vacancies.

The police force in 1889 consisted of a chief, three officers and 24 patrolmen.

The first patrol wagon, pulled by two horses, was used in 1895.

In 1904, as the automobile became more popular, the speed limit was set at 6 miles per hour. The first automobile patrol car was established in 1911. ^[4]

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office: 1968–present

In 1967 a mandate was given by residents of Jacksonville and Duval County with 65 percent of the votes cast in favor of consolidating the city (Jacksonville Police Department) and county governments (Duval County Sheriff's Office). On October 1, 1968, the two governmental bodies were replaced with "a single unified government". The new organization, the Office of the Sheriff – Jacksonville Police, paralleled the name of the new jurisdiction. The four other municipalities within Duval County (Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Baldwin) retained their own police departments. However, the Baldwin city council voted to disband their police department by 2007; at midnight on March 13, 2006, the sheriff's office took over responsibility of police services. ^[5]

Starting in the late 1980s, the agency adopted the Glock 17 9×19mm pistol as their sidearm. The agency still issues Glock 17s as the sidearm.

On June 2, 2022, Mike Williams announced his retirement a year prior to the end of his second term. He moved his residence to nearby Nassau County in 2021 despite a Jacksonville Charter rule that requires elected officials to live in Duval County. Williams considered filing suit to challenge the law, but decided against it. Public criticism that the leader of law enforcement was violating the rules forced Williams to make a choice. He stated that his last day would be June 10. Undersheriff Pat Ivey was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace Williams, and was sworn in on June 11, 2022. ^[6] A special election was held August 23. No candidate received 50% of the vote, so a runoff was held on November 8, 2022. ^{[7] [8]} T.K. Waters (R) beat Lakesha Burton (D) 55%-45% on the November 8th election. Waters was sworn in on Sunday, November 20, 2022, in front of his church congregation. Waters was unopposed in the spring 2023 municipal election. ^[9]

Elected sheriffs

• 1903–1904 John Price
• 1913–1915 W. H. "Ham" Dowling
• 1924–1928 W. B. Cahoon ^[10]
• 1932–1957 Rex Sweat
• 1957–1958 William Alpheus "Al" Cahill ^[11]
• 1958–1986 Dale Carson ^[12]
• 1986–1996 Jim McMillan
• 1996–2004 Nat Glover
• 2004–2015 John Rutherford
• 2015–2022 Mike Williams ^[8]
• June–November 2022 Pat Ivey ^[6]
• November 2022 – present T. K. Waters ^[13]

Headquarters

Prior to the Police/Sheriff merger in 1968, Jacksonville Police Headquarters, located at 711 Liberty Street was dedicated November 30, 1964. ^[14]

East Bay Street

On February 18, 1974 ground was broken for the Police Administration Building at 501 East Bay Street. It was later renamed Police Memorial Building (PMB). The adjacent jail was constructed in 1990. ^[14] In 2024 JSO stated that the fifty-year old building was inadequate for the agency's needs. ^[15] The PMB provided just 215 parking spaces for 739 employees, requiring lease of a grass lot across the street. Total PMB office space was 165,466 sq ft (15,372.3 m²) which forced 184 JSO employees to work in off-site office space. ^[16] In 2025 JSO was facing a $6 million bill for work on the PMB including replacing flooring, air handling units and work on the helicopter landing pad on the rooftop. The fueling station was the only police function destined to remain at East Bay Street. ^[16]

Florida Blue Building

The Florida Blue Building (FBB) is actually multiple structures located on eight acres on Riverside Avenue in the Brooklyn neighborhood. The 571,459 sq ft (53,090.3 m²) complex includes a 10-story building constructed in 1950 with the adjacent 22-story tower added in 1971. ^[15] A 4-story parking garage was built in 1973. ^[16]

JSO reviewed more than 25 properties before picking Florida Blue for a new headquarters. In addition to room for growth, the location offered emergency backup power; maintenance provided by the building's owner would result in significant savings for the city. ^[17] In early 2023, JSO and the city began discussions regarding a department move from the PMB to a Brooklyn location. ^[17]

The City Council approved a multi-year lease in September 2023 for space in the Florida Blue Building for their JSO Homeland Security Department and select crime labs. The initial 12.5-year lease included two 5-year extensions. ^[16] A building permit was issued by the city in May 2024 for the initial build-out. ^[17]

In January 2025 the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee agreed to send legislation to city council for an amended and restated lease that would include 341,959 sq ft (31,769.0 m²), nearly 60% of the tower. ^{[16] [17]} The lease would also include 1700 parking spaces. Owner Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. agreed to provide $27 million for tenant build out. Office furniture would also be transferred from the owner's Deerwood campus offices. ^[16] The term of the new lease agreement exceeds 26 years. ^[17]

Organization

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responding to an emergency

The JSO is headed by the sheriff, a Florida constitutional officer elected to a four-year term. By virtue of Jacksonville's consolidated city-county status, the sheriff combines the functions of police chief of Jacksonville and sheriff of Duval County. He is one of the few popularly elected police chiefs in the country. ^{[18] [19]}

The sheriff appoints his own senior staff, from undersheriff to commanders. All sworn members of the JSO are sworn in by the sheriff and are considered under the Florida constitution as his/her deputies. All sworn members of the JSO are law enforcement officers (LEO) or correctional officers with all powers allowed by state law to carry firearms and make arrest. JSO also employs community service officers, who are unsworn personnel that respond to primarily traffic-related incidents not requiring the full police powers of a sworn officer. ^[20]

The Sheriff's Office is divided into five departments, each sub-divided into divisions, sections, units, and squads. Each department is commanded by a director with the rank of director of a department. Each division is commanded by a division chief; each section is headed by a Commander (formerly Assistant Chief). ^[21] The departments are organized as follows:

Department of Patrol & Enforcement

There are three divisions in this department, and it is headed by the Director of Patrol and Enforcement.

Patrol Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Patrol who oversees the six patrol zones, each headed by a District Commander.

Jacksonville Police Districts

• District 1: Downtown, Springfield, Eastside, San Marco, Riverside
• District 2: Arlington, Intercoastal West
• District 3: Southside, Mandarin, E-Town
• District 4: Avondale, Ortega, Westside, Argyle
• District 5: Northwest, New Town, Baldwin
• District 6: Northside, San Mateo, Oceanway

Patrol Support Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Patrol Support.

• Community Engagement Section - Commander
  • Crime Prevention, International Affairs, Sheriff's Watch, Blight Abatement, Tele-Serv, Police Athletic League
• Specialized Patrol Section - Commander
  • Aviation, Canine, Mounted, Civil Process, Risk Protection, Offender Tracking, Felony Registration, Police Auxiliary, Traffic Enforcement, DUI Enforcement, Motors Squad

Special Events Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Special Events.

• Special Events Section - Commander
  • Special Events, Secondary Employment, Emergency Preparedness, Honor Guard, Mobile Field Force

Department of Investigations & Homeland Security

There are two divisions in this department, and it is headed by the Director of Investigations & Homeland Security.

Investigation Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Investigation.

• Property Crimes Section - Commander
  • Auto Crimes Unit – The Auto Crimes Unit handles auto theft and auto burglary investigations, many of which result in civil disputes. The unit also investigates thefts of marine craft, all terrain vehicles, motorcycles and aircraft.
  • Traffic Homicide Unit – The Traffic Homicide Unit is responsible for investigating traffic fatalities, and hit and run crashes with serious bodily injury. They operate under the supervision of the Auto Crimes Unit commander.
  • Burglary Unit – The Burglary Unit investigates all business and residential burglaries as well as thefts over a certain dollar amount. These squads are assigned to the geographic patrol zones.
  • Polygraph Unit – The Polygraph Unit is staffed by polygraphists who administer polygraph examinations to suspects, victims, and witnesses involved in criminal investigations. They also administer polygraph examinations for police and other job applicants as part of their background investigation process.
  • Economic Crimes – The Economic Crimes Unit investigates forgeries, frauds, including Internet fraud, bank fraud and credit card fraud, along with identity theft, con games, and other economic crimes.
  • Crime Scene Unit – The Crime Scene Unit is staffed by evidence technicians.
  • Latent Print Unit – The Latent Print Unit is staffed by latent print examiners who play a vital role in the investigation, identification, and conviction of criminal offenders.
  • Photo Lab – The Photo Lab is staffed by police photographers who are responsible for processing, printing and maintaining all crime scene photographs.
• Major Case Section - Commander
  • Homicide Unit – The Homicide Unit handles current cases while one team handles cold case investigations. The "hot" teams investigate cases such as murder, manslaughter, suicide, accidental death (except traffic crashes), in‑custody deaths, any death of a suspicious or undetermined nature or a death in which a doctor will not sign the death certificate as well as any incident (except traffic crashes) resulting in life-threatening injury. The homicide unit also investigates officer involved shooting incidents, no matter how serious the injury, and incidents when an officer has been shot or seriously injured.
  • Cold Case Unit – The Cold Case Team reviews all requests for an investigation, provided the original detective, or reassigned detective is no longer in the Homicide Unit and there is no other active ongoing investigation.
  • Missing Persons Unit – The Missing Persons Unit is under the direction of the Homicide Unit commander.
  • Robbery Unit – Detectives are tasked with the investigation of the crimes of armed robbery, unarmed or "strong-arm" robbery, home-invasion robbery, carjacking, and a relatively new Florida statute covering the crime of "robbery by sudden snatching." Additionally, the Robbery Unit oversees the enforcement of the Jacksonville Business Security Code and the Florida Convenience Business Security Act.
  • Specialized Investigations Unit – Detectives in the Special Investigations Unit (formerly known as Sex Crimes) are tasked with the investigation of all felony sexual assaults, as well as crimes involving child pornography and lewd and lascivious acts. They also investigate incidents of child abuse, child neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, elderly neglect and financial exploitation of the elderly.
  • Victim Services Coordinator – The Victim Services Coordinators provide assistance to all crime victims, witnesses, survivors, and their significant others. The coordinator also provides short-term crisis intervention and counseling for law enforcement.
• Violence Reduction Section - Commander
  • Community Problem Response Unit – Officers assigned to this unit (commonly referred to as "CPR") conduct proactive street-level investigations in support of other investigative units and in response to crime patterns.
  • Gang Investigations Unit – The Gang Unit investigates and monitors known criminal street gangs and validated gang members who commit crimes within the city of Jacksonville.
  • Violent Crimes Unit – Detectives assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit investigate felony level battery crimes, such as shootings (where no death has occurred), drive-by shootings, shootings into occupied dwellings, and other aggravated assaults.

Homeland Security Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Homeland Security.

• Special Operations Section - Commander
  • SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Unit, Dive Team, Intelligence Unit, Crisis Negotiators, Unmanned Aerial Systems, CISM, Critical Infrastructures, Fusion Center
• Narcotics/Vice Section - Commander
  • Major Case & Mid-level Narcotics Units, Pharmaceutical & Designer Drug, Overdose Death Investigations, Clandestine Lab, Street Level Narcotics, Vice Squad, DART, Technical Support, Computer Forensics, Internet Crimes Against Children, Warehouse, Forfeiture Unit

Department of Police Services

There are two divisions in this department, and it is headed by the Director of Police Services.

Support Services Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Support Services.

• Information Systems Management Section - Commander
  • Infrastructure, Support Services, Software Services
• Communications Section - Commander
  • 911 Administration, Communications Center, Communications Technology, Property & Evidence
• General Support Section - Commander
  • Fleet Management, Identification, Public Records Requests, Records, Police Memorial Building Security, Facility Management, Supply & Mail, Copy Center

Budget Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Budget.

• • Financial Analysis, Grants, Procurement, Trust Funds

Department of Personnel & Professional Standards

There are two divisions in this department commanded by the Director of Personnel & Professional Standards.

Human Resources Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Human Resources.

• • Critical Incident Stress Management, Sworn Recruitment & Inspections, Peer Support, Member Chaplaincy Services
• Personnel Services Section - Executive
  • Occupational Health & Wellness, I/O Psychology & Civilian Recruitment, Payroll & HR Data Reporting, Sworn Onboarding, Position Management & Civilian Onboarding

Professional Standards Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Professional Standards.

• • Internal Audits
• Public Accountability Section - Commander
  • Accreditation, Inspections & Written Directives, Internal Affairs unit, Professional Oversight Unit, Public Relations & Information, Body-Worn Cameras
• Training Section - Commander
  • Field Training, Gun Range, Leadership Development Institute, Training Academy
• Strategic Communications Section - Executive

Department of Corrections

The Department of Corrections has more than 600 state-certified corrections officers and civilian personnel with three correctional facilities in Duval County. The largest is the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility (PDF), constructed in 1990 ^[14] and located in downtown Jacksonville. It is a thirteen-story building with a capacity of over 2,200. The others are the Montgomery Correctional Center (MCC) and the Community Transitions Center (CTC).

John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Center

There are three divisions within this department, and it is headed by the Director of Corrections.

Jails Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Jails

• Pretrial Detention Facility Custody & Housing Section – Commander
  • Housing, Special Projects
• Pretrial Detention Facility Processing & Special Projects Section - Commander
  • Classification, Processing
• Pretrial Detention Facility Support Services Section - Commander
  • Facility Management, Inmate Services, Special Operations, Transport & Services, Technology
• Court Services Section - Major
  • Court side, Holding Side

Prisons Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Prisons

• Community Transition Center – Commander
  • Services, Watch Operations
• Montgomery Correctional Center – Commander
  • Security, Services, Watch Operations

Programs & Transitional Services Division

This division is commanded by the Chief of Programs & Transitional Services

• • Corrections Chaplaincy & Interfaith Services, Electronic Monitoring, Inmate Programs, Jacksonville Reentry Center, Misdemeanor Probation Program, Pretrial Services & Court Diversionary Programs

Montgomery Correctional Center

The City Prison Farm (P-Farm) was started in 1958 on a large, 640-acre (2.6 km2) tract in the northwestern Duval County, Florida.

With the consolidation of the city of Jacksonville in 1968, the City Prison Farm was renamed as the Jacksonville Correctional Institution. James I. Montgomery was facility director from 1947-1986 and the Jacksonville Correctional Institution was renamed the Montgomery Correctional Center in 1986. ^[22]

Goode Pretrial Detention Facility

Duval County had longstanding problems with incarceration overcrowding dating back to the 1950s. To address the problem, the county tried various programs of pretrial release including notice to appear, release on own recognizance, surety bonds, signature bonds, cash bonds, and jail sweeps for mass release. They even renovated an unused juvenile shelter to house the overflow.

Sixteen years of research, development and planning culminated in the opening of the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility in 1991. ^[23]

In 1991, it was the nation's fifth-largest jail. ^[24]

Over 1,700 inmates from seven different facilities were transported to the new facility and it served the county well. Over the next thirty years, the number of inmates grew with the city's growth and overcrowding again became a problem. There was no room for expansion downtown. The city began about constructing a new jail elsewhere and possible uses for the Police Memorial Building when the department vacates it. ^[15] Mayor Donna Deegan proposed "beyond five-year" police projects. The first was a 3,000-bed jail on the Northside near the Montgomery Correctional Center at $244 million. The second was a 500-bed jail somewhere downtown for inmates making court appearances at $41 million. The third was for a new Police Memorial Building costing $96 million. ^[24]

The City Council allocated $9 million in 2024 for infrastructure improvements that should extend five years to the lifespan of Goode while planning continues for a new facility. ^[25] Following the headquarters move to Florida Blue, the Police Memorial Building might be utilized as on-site infirmary for the Goode Pretrial Detention Center. A mental health facility could also be included to support both correctional officers and incarcerated individuals. ^[25]

Community Transition Center

The CTC houses both male and female sentenced inmates who participate in either the Substance Abuse Treatment program at Matrix House or a Work Furlough program. Additional inmates are assigned there who work at the facility. ^{[a 1]}

Rank structure

Insignia	Rank
	Sheriff
	Undersheriff
	Director
	Chief
	Commander (formerly Assistant Chief) [21]
	Major (Courts/Services)
	Captain (Auxiliary)
	Lieutenant
	Master Sergeant
	Senior Sergeant
	Sergeant
	Master Police Officer/Master Corrections Officer / Community Service Corporal/Police Emergency Communications Officer II (Dispatcher)
	Senior Police Officer/Senior Corrections Officer/Police Emergency Communications Officer I (Receiving Officer)
[no rank insignia]	Officer / Detective

Misconduct

• On 31 January 1925, a local Black man, Willie Washington, was murdered by a Jacksonville detective. His body was put on display in the county courthouse. Hundreds came to view and jeer at his body. ^[26]
• The Brenton Butler case involved a 2000 murder investigation in which a 15-year-old Black male was arrested and charged with the crime. At trial, he claimed his confession was coerced after he was threatened and brutalized by detectives. The jury acquitted him after less than an hour's deliberation. Two other individuals were later convicted of the crime. The grand jury investigation criticized the prosecutor and police for their handling of the case, but found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. ^[27]
• In January 2003, former officers Aric Sinclair, Jason Pough, Reginald Bones, and Karl Waldon were sentenced to federal prison terms for their crimes that included robbery of cash and drugs, kidnapping, and murder over three years in the late 1990s. ^[28]

See also

• Florida portal

• Montgomery Correctional Center
• List of law enforcement agencies in Florida
• List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies
• Brenton Butler case, a 2000 case of false confession

Notes

1. "Community Transition Center". Jaxsheriff.org. Jacksonville Sheriff Office. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

References

1. SLMPD: History
2. Sullivan, Carl; Baranauckas, Carla (June 26, 2020). "Here's how much money goes to police departments in largest cities across the U.S." USA Today . Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
3. Gibson, Travis (2022-11-20). "T.K. Waters sworn in as Jacksonville's new sheriff during emotion-filled ceremony". News4Jax. Jacksonville, Florida. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
4. "History of Jacksonville Police Department" (PDF). ncjrs.gov. NCJRS. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
5. Baldwin PD disbands
6. Staff (2022-06-11). "Pat Ivey sworn in as Jacksonville sheriff after retirement of Mike Williams". WJXT. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
7. Bauerlein, David (June 3, 2022). "Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams is taking off the badge. What's next?". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
8. "Florida sheriff retires after moving outside of county". Associated Press. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
9. Patterson, Steve. "T.K. Waters unopposed in spring election, will get full term as Jacksonville sheriff". Jack. Florida Times Union. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
10. "W.B. Cahoon". Gainesville Police Department. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
11. Scanlan, Dan (19 November 2014). "1913-2014: Duval sheriff William Cahill, whose term was marred by allegations, dies at age 101". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
12. Kerr, Jessie-Lynne (May 28, 2000). "Former sheriff Carson dies at 78". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
13. Gibson, Travis (2022-11-20). "T.K. Waters sworn in as Jacksonville's new sheriff during emotion-filled ceremony".
14. Pritzer, Cherri. "Jacksonville's Police Memorial Building: A look back at JSO headquarters". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times Union. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
15. Mathis, Karen Brune. "City issues permit for $5 million JSO build-out at Florida Blue in Brooklyn". JaxDailyRecord.com. Jacksonville Daily Record. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
16. Anderson, Ric. "Jacksonville Sheriff's Office wants to move nearly all operations to Florida Blue tower". JaxDailyRecord.com. Jacksonville Daily Record. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
17. Cleavenger, Alexus. "Jacksonville Sheriff's Office looking for city approval to have more space at the Florida Blue building". Action News Jax. Cox Media Group. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
18. Grogan, Billy. "Untangling the Knot: Can Electing Police Chiefs Depoliticize Policing?". billyjgrogan.com. Top Cop Leadership. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
19. "Are city police chiefs the most commonly elected public officials". brainly.com. Brainly. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
20. "Chapter 30, Florida Statues". leg.stste.fl.us. State of Florida. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
21. "JSO Organizational Chart". Jaxsheriff.org. Jacksonville Sheriff Office. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
22. Stevens, Dennis (2018). An Introduction to American Policing (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 119-120. ISBN   9781284110111 . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
23. Berg, M A (Summer 1993). "JOHN E. GOODE PRE-TRIAL DETENTION FACILITY: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION". Large Jail Network Bulletin: 17-21. PMID   143470 . Retrieved 21 January 2025.
24. Bauerlein, David. "How and where will Jacksonville build a new jail? Special committee will give answers". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times Union. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
25. Holthaus, Hanna. "What's next for the Duval County jail? Jacksonville City Council to make final recommendations". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times Union. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
26. Stepzinski, Teresa (22 February 2021). "Jacksonville lynching victim killed by police, then put on display in 1925 honored Sunday". Florida TImes-Union. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
27. "Court strikes conviction in murder case". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. May 21, 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
28. "Five Defendants Including Former Jacksonville, Florida Police Officers Sentenced On Murder and Other Felonies". DOJ Press Release. US Department of Justice. Retrieved 19 January 2023.

External links

• Official Sheriff's Office website
• Florida Times-Union profile

30°19′31″N81°39′08″W / 30.325381°N 81.652126°W / 30.325381; -81.652126