Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Public safety is evolving and so are we. As Jacksonville continues to grow, we are investing in technology that helps our officers respond faster, make more informed decisions, and better protect our community. Our Eagle Eye patrol-based drone program has already proven its value by: • Locating missing and endangered people. • Tracking dangerous suspects. • Recovering critical evidence. • Providing thermal imaging and live aerial support during fires and other emergencies. Now, we're building on that success with our new Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program. Unlike traditional drone deployments, DFR drones launch remotely from strategically placed docks and can arrive on scene before patrol officers, providing real-time intelligence that helps officers understand what's happening before they pull up. A skilled member of our Unmanned Aerial Systems team controls the drone from headquarters and relays the information to responding units. In recent deployments, DFR drones reached scenes in as little as 42 seconds, located suspects before patrol arrived, and guided officers safely to their exact locations. This technology doesn't replace police officers. It gives them another tool: one that improves situational awareness, enhances officer safety, helps protect the public, and ultimately leads to better outcomes. Thanks to $610,000 in state funding, JSO is also expanding its drone capabilities with additional Eagle Eye drones and new equipment that will allow us to serve more neighborhoods across Jacksonville.

Creating the change we want to see. That’s the mission of our Support & Outreach team. Led by Pastor Garland Scott, a former gang member turned giant in our city’s violence reduction strategy, our Support & Outreach team is dedicated to stopping violence before it happens. One of the ways they do that is through our custom notifications: personalized visits to at-risk individuals and provide them with the opportunity to leave behind gang life. We also partner with faith organizations to provide those actively in gang or group life a way out. Find the new episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch the video on JSO's YouTube Channel at: https://lnkd.in/eKAUcHYe

Are you interested in a career in law enforcement? Friday, August 21st is your opportunity to connect with local law enforcement agencies, meet recruiters, and explore a variety of rewarding career paths - all in one place! Join us at the Northeast Florida Multi-Agency Career Fair to learn about available positions, hiring processes, training opportunities and what it takes to serve our community. Friday, August 21, 2026, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Avenues, 10300 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32256 We hope to see you there! Equal Opportunity / Equal Access Employer

Police service dogs and horses, specialty vehicles, AND back-to-school shopping? That’s exactly what you’ll find at The Avenues next weekend! Saturday, August 1, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Avenues, 10300 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32202 You'll find us throughout the first floor of the mall and in the parking garage. This free event is our chance to connect with you, share important safety information, talk about career opportunities at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and let you get a firsthand look at our specialty units. The best part? We’re hosting our Safety Fair during the state’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. Get all your back-to-school shopping done at the mall while exploring our booths and exhibits. We hope to see you there!

It’s one of our favorite agency traditions: our annual Corrections Family Fun Day! Family Fun Day allows our corrections officers and staff to come together outside of work to enjoy time together. The day started with a friendly game of softball before we enjoyed a Jumbo Shrimp baseball game together. We usually host Family Fun Day earlier in the year for National Correctional Officers Week, but we had to reschedule due to the weather. We’re grateful we had beautiful weather for our Family Fun Day! If you’re interested in joining in on next year’s fun, our Corrections team is hiring! Visit JoinJSO.com to connect with one of our recruiters. Our next Corrections class at our Academy begins at the end of August.

Transparency builds trust, and trust starts with information. We stay committed to keeping our community informed. That’s why we’ve created our Transparency Portal. This free online tool lets you explore crime trends, traffic data, and other public safety information across the city. The data also helps us better understand where resources are most needed to drive crime down and keep Jacksonville safe. Maybe you’re looking to purchase a home in a new neighborhood, or you want to know about the area around your child’s school. The portal will show you all data in a customizable area and date range, so you can get the full picture of the area’s past and current safety trends. The portal is also updated every day, so you’ll always have access to the latest available information. Visit https://lnkd.in/gtAN5CQB today to access the Transparency Portal.

Your past doesn’t have to be your future. Not long ago, John "Holy" Gabbana was living a dangerous lifestyle, involved with gangs, drugs, and guns. He was part of the problem. Now, he is a Christian artist who is sharing his story with the world to help others choose a different path. Recently, our Outreach and Support team and Gang Unit took him to see how they meet face-to-face with people at risk of being involved in violence and crime. We offer these young men and women resources and support to become productive citizens. The message is simple: it’s never too late to change your life. At JSO, we know policing is more about making arrests. It’s about preventing violence before it happens, building relationships, and giving people opportunities. We thank Mr. Gabbana for visiting and helping show others there is a better life.

We hope to see you next Thursday at the District 1 Town Hall Meeting! This district covers Brooklyn, Downtown, the Eastside, San Marco and Springfield areas of Jacksonville. Thursday, July 23, 2026, 6:30 p.m. Aspire Church in San Marco. Parking will be available in the church's lot. Agenda: • A detailed review from Sheriff T.K. Waters on the ways we’re keeping your family safe • An update from District 1 Commander Jimmy Ricks on how his officers are working in your neighborhoods • An exclusive look into a program designed to reduce the unhoused population and get people resources • Opportunity to meet with members from JSO's Recruitment Team • A chance to get your questions answered by the Sheriff’s Command Staff (submit your questions now by emailing TownHall@jaxsheriff.org) Our Town Halls are open to everyone, regardless of where you live. We encourage you to attend the Town Halls in the communities where you live or work. If you’re not sure what district that is, we have a Find My District tool on our website at https://lnkd.in/eDxbS95V We hope to see you there!

Join us for the annual Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Safety Fair on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Avenues, 10300 Southside Boulevard. This free community event is a great opportunity to connect with JSO Recruiters, learn valuable safety tips, and discover resources available in our community. We hope to see you there!

Add it to your calendar that next Tuesday we're hosting the District 6 Town Hall Meeting! This district covers the Northside, San Mateo, and Oceanway areas of Jacksonville. Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 6:30 p.m. The Church of Eleven22 North Campus on Starratt Road Agenda: • A detailed review from Sheriff T.K. Waters on the ways we’re keeping your family safe • A update from District Commander Scott Lundquist on how his officers are working in your neighborhoods • A look at how two officers’ quick actions saved the lives of multiple children at a local beach • Opportunity to meet with members from JSO's Recruitment Team • A chance to get your questions answered by the Sheriff’s Command Staff (submit your questions now by emailing TownHall@jaxsheriff.org) Our Town Halls are open to everyone, regardless of where you live. We encourage you to attend the Town Halls in the communities where you live or work. If you’re not sure what district that is, we have a "Find My District" tool on our website at https://lnkd.in/eDxbS95V We hope to see you there!