JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — On Christmas, Jacksonville Beach Police Officer Ricky Miller worked the day shift, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“You know you have to work long days, you know you have to work holidays,” Miller said. “When we got hired, our chief told us, ‘You’re going to have to work some holidays.’ That’s just the way it works, especially with a small department.”
He’s a six-year veteran of the department, and volunteered to switch shifts with a fellow officer who has children. He said it’s important for him to protect the city in which he grew up.
“Christmas can go up or down, left or right,” Miller said. “You just don’t know. They have had some major incidents happen on Christmas.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 97% of civil and private industry workers and 93% of state and local government works got Christmas as a paid holiday in 2018. But not all first responders get that luxury.
Each week, these officers cover a different side of Jax Beach. Wednesday, Miller was on the south end of the city, patrolling neighborhoods.
“Getting out in the community, they want to see you they want to interact with you, and we want to do that, as well,” Miller said. “Especially with the kids, hey, we’re friendly, come up to us if you need help.”
Miller said he makes it a priority to have a presence in local neighborhoods. He said it deters crimes and builds on the community relationship with law enforcement.
“Anything I can do to make the people who live here feel safer,” Miller said. “Whether I just happen to stop somebody that maybe doesn’t live in the area. Just let them know, hey, they’re out riding around, they’re out looking. That’ll hopefully deter that person from trying to commit a crime out here. “
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