JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters met with residents and business owners in the Moncrief neighborhood Saturday morning as part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s monthly crime prevention walk.
Residents raised concerns about speeding, prostitution, homelessness and criminal activity in the area during the walk, which is designed to allow community members to speak directly with law enforcement officials.
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“We go around from neighborhoods all over the city to check on folks and see how we’re doing and see what we can do to improve,” Waters said.
Linda Jordan, who has lived in the Moncrief neighborhood for two years, said she was encouraged to see officers engaging with residents outside of responding to crimes.
“I’ve never seen police come out and talk to the neighbors or anything like that, so this is good. This is what this neighborhood needs,” Jordan said.
Jordan said one of her biggest concerns is speeding in the neighborhood.
“Well, some of the complaints I have are, of course, the speeding up and down here. They think it’s like Indy 500 over here,” she said.
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Jordan also pointed to prostitution as another issue affecting the community.
“Some of the other issues, of course, the prostitutes,” she said.
Another concern raised during the walk involved criminal activity around the Raceway gas station on Golfair Boulevard.
“If you’re up there with criminal activity, you’re involved in it, we’re coming to that Raceway and we’re gonna clean that up,” Waters said.
Some residents said they would like to see improvements in how officers interact with people in the neighborhood.
“I feel like they just, you don’t be harassing us in this neighborhood because of the area that we’re living in,” resident Michelle Barnhill said.
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Business owners in the Moncrief area welcomed the increased police presence.
Wendy Holley of Holley’s Bar-B-Q said she hopes the event encourages residents and businesses to continue working together to improve the community.
“The community, we just trying to look out for each other. Like the business owners, we want more business, we want positive impact on the community,” Holley said.
The crime prevention walk is held in different Jacksonville neighborhoods each month. The next crime prevention walk is scheduled for Nov. 14 in District 5.
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