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Taxpayers wondering if proposed Jacksonville Sheriff's Office funding will slow down crime

A bloody summer in Jacksonville has taxpayers wondering if the money allocated in the city’s proposed budget could really slow down violent crimes in the area.

Molly Brady reflected on recent shootings. “A great deal of sorrow and regret,” said Brady. "We haven’t been able to address these issues.”

Concerns with crime and safety appear to be boiling up in the city.

An anonymous letter addressed to Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams called Jacksonville a "war zone."

In the past six days, 32-year-old Jamie Marie Roque was shot and killed in a McDonald’s drive-thru, and 7-year-old Heidy Rivas Villanueva was shot and killed by a stray bullet from a parking lot gunfight.

Today Sheriff Williams came before the City Council’s finance committee to discuss JSO’s funding in the city’s proposed budget. The committee gave JSO’s requests the green light.

JSO’s asked for the funding necessary for about 20 more officers, and real-time crime-fighting technology.

Williams tells Action News Jax 70 percent of the additional officers would be patrolmen, while 30 percent would fill detective roles.

Molly Brady doesn’t think more officers, and cutting edge crime technology, would decrease violent crimes in the city.

“Actually,” said Brady. “I don’t think more and more enforcement is what the answer is.”

Brady is calling for an emphasis on reform programs that could reduce recidivism rates in the city. She feels this may be a better approach to preventing more shootings in the future.

The sheriff says he maintains his faith in the city’s efforts, and use of resources. He contends, overall, the city is on the right track.

“It’s absolutely a safe place to raise your kids,” Williams said. He admitted some may not agree with this sentiment after the events of this weekend, but he tells Action News Jax, crime statistics show a decrease in overall crime.

He contends the entire community shares a responsibility to find an adequate solution to violent crimes, not law enforcement alone.

“If you lay it at the feet of law-enforcement to solve on its own, it will never get solved,” said Williams. “We can only treat the symptoms.”