Jacksonville sheriff addresses personal approach to crime, plans for added officers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Violent crime is the single most important issue for many across Jacksonville as formal polls and Action News Jax viewer feedback has shown.

And part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s effort to curb that issue includes a hands-on approach, with crime walks like the one Saturday morning in Jacksonville’s Southside Estates.

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These crime walks aim for law enforcement to talk to members of some of the most crime-plagued communities in Jacksonville on how to best keep them safe.

Sheriff T.K. Waters outlined at Saturday’s event how it’s an important approach to an important cause.

“Being able to go door to door, make a face to face contact, and talk to people face to face here on some of the issues and concerns … it’s extremely valuable,” Waters said.

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Waters also outlined how adding hundreds of officers to Jacksonville’s streets would enable them to provide a more personal approach to policing just like with these crime walks, something he plans to sit down and talk with new Mayor-elect Donna Deegan about in the near future.

“We have been in contact, so we’re gonna talk I think probably next week,” Waters said. “You know, we’re gonna have those discussions.”

Waters also outlined exactly what those talks would likely look like.

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“We need about 500 [officers], I’m asking for 200. The first term, if we can get it,” Waters said

Waters said those new officers could go a long way in allowing JSO to continue regular conversations with the people most impacted by crime at the heart of these communities.

“We want folks to understand that this agency is made up of people. [People] who live in neighborhoods, and have issues, and are concerned about yours … we’re flesh and blood and human beings and care about our communities.”

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