In wake of Baton Rouge officer shooting, Jacksonville officers put fear aside to serve

The most recent shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge has law enforcement across the country worried, but here at home, Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers said they still have a job to do.

“I think the biggest stress that we have is just safety and the unknown,” said JSO Assistant Chief T.K. Waters.

Protecting and serving as a police officer is full of the unknown, Waters said.

It’s a fear Waters said officers put behind them.

“Disappointment, hurt, recognizing that we’re in a difficult time, a tense time,” said Waters.

The racial tension is obvious across the country, in light of two separate police shootings of black men and two different shootings that killed eight police officers.

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Waters: "I think there’s tension with certain segments, certain groups."

But Waters said it’s something JSO is working on.

“I think, that you know, Larry, that we have been going around, the sheriff staff, we’re making as many events as we can to show that, one we want to earn our community’s trust,” said Waters.

A trust, many people in the black community say is broken but Waters believes being a black officer can help rebuild that.

Waters said they will continue to reach out to the community, hoping to ease the tension in Jacksonville.

Cox Media Group