JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville city councilman said he wants a Police Citizen Review Board and has proposed legislation to make it happen.
Councilman Garrett Dennis, of District 9, said he would like to see the community and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office work together when it comes to accountability and crime in The River City.
Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole spoke to him to learn why he believes it could help and how soon the Jacksonville City Council could vote on it.
“It’s a positive for the sheriff’s office, as well as the community,” Dennis said.
Dennis said the City Council attempted to try something similar in 2016, but it didn’t get any traction.
Following the death of George Floyd and the outcry and push for more accountability, transparency, and communication with police, Dennis believes now is the right time to create a Police Citizen Review Board.
“This board is not an adversary board. It’s not to have a citizen, the independent review board, against JSO. It’s to actually work together and really understand what’s going on,” Dennis said.
Dennis told Cole the board would be made up of 14 people from the community, each appointed by a council member, as well as an ex officio member of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Steve Zona, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville Lodge 5-30, told me the order is against the legislation.
Read the full statement below:
"The legislation introduced to council is not about transparency. Council Member Dennis is trying to bring emotions, agendas and politics to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). The groups who are calling for this board are the same groups who call our members murderers even after a complete investigation, body worn camera videos and physical evidence clear the officer.
"This is who Council Member Dennis stands with and why he has introduced this legislation. First he tried to defund JSO now he is trying to use the officers who honorably serve our community as political pawns in his sick game.
"Any investigation JSO does, internal or criminal, is public record. We encourage the media and public to read them. People will see the officers who serve the citizens of Jacksonville do so at the highest levels of professionalism, in accordance with all applicable laws and if they don’t they are held accountable for their actions.
“We are opposed to this legislation.”
“If there’s nothing to hide, why wouldn’t the police union or the sheriff’s office want a citizen review board?” Dennis said.
Ben Frazier, of the Northside Coalition, believes the city’s top leaders need to support the legislation.
The local activist said, “The mayor, the state attorney, the sheriff, and the FOP should immediately endorse the proposed CRB. It’s needed because it would foster greater trust between the community and law enforcement and promote greater transparency and accountability at JSO.”
He went on to express concerns about the legislation not being able to live up to expectations without a “firm commitment with city officials.”
“The major concern is that we could end up with a dog that is all bark and no bite,” Frazier said.
Dennis told Action News Jax the legislation for the Citizen Review Board was deferred during the Rules Committee meeting this afternoon. He isn’t expecting this to be voted on by a full council for at least the next few weeks.