JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two separate police involved shootings were heard by a JSO review board. In both cases, more training was recommended for officers.
The training could be anything from hitting the books in the classroom to going back in the field to do training. These were just recommendations, but pretty strong ones from the review board. "It was four minutes into the pursuit when you inquired about whether the person was impaired," said one board member. "You have to had been shooting while the car was moving. The trejectory just doesn't make sense. How were you firing in a downward direction," said the board member.
Those were just some of the tough questions JSO officers faced from a board of their superiors. The board reviewed the actions of officers in two different cases. In the end, there was one message, officers need more training. "I vote yes as well for some training tactics and better communication," said one board member. "I would like to see the squad have the ability to cover some tactics," said another board member.
In the case on Loretto Road in December, a man was shot after a pursuit by police. The suspect rammed his car into a police cruiser. Tuesday the board questioned how the officers responded. "He just backed into my police car. He's now on Loretto Road. Take him out, take him out, take him out with a gun." That was scanner talk from the officers that day.
Then there's the case of a two year-old shot during a bank robbery. It was statements by a young officer, that concerned the review board. "I remember the suspect. He appeared closeup and large. I shot another, unknown amount of bullets," said Officer Black during testimony.
That's why the board says these officers need more time learning how to do the job safely. "Part of field training is to have control and direction for the officer," said one board member.
Now after facing the tough questions, their fate lies in the hands of the Sheriff. He'll decide whether to take the boards recommendation to train these officers further. There is no timeline, on when that decision will be made or when the officers will have to do the training.
The officers in both cases were cleared from criminal charges by the State Attorney's Office.
