Random Thought about JSO: Rethinking JSO's name and image

[BossmanOdum10]

Hear me out. Random thought about JSO.
I believe JSO should re image themselves as the "Jacksonville Metropolitan Police Department". Follow the lines of Las Vegas and Louisville. This will give JSO a fresh outlook on their operations and image. I also believed that "Sheriff on the side and Police on the back" was ALWAYS tacky and confusing! Make it make sense and clean it up as "JMPD". This fresh start approach by JSO and the new "to be" Sheriff could create a more attractive (for job openings) and trustworthy (for the community) organization. JMPD sounds professional, clean and easy to understand. On an internal operational viewpoint, nothing major will change (Just like Vegas, there will still be an elected sheriff, etc) but  on the outside, everything should improve.

Share your opinions!

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Seems like county-wide law enforcement agencies throughout Florida refer to themselves as "sheriff" offices unlike more limited area city-based agencies that may use the term "police" mostly.  Is there a Florida law or regulation regarding designating a county-based law enforcement agency as an "office of sheriff?"  I recall reading a recent article that said 66 of Florida's 67 counties elect a "sheriff" which is what makes me ask this question.

[BossmanOdum10]

^ Seems like county-wide law enforcement agencies throughout Florida refer to themselves as "sheriff" offices unlike more limited area city-based agencies that may use the term "police" mostly.  Is there a Florida law or regulation regarding designating a county-based law enforcement agency as an "office of sheriff?"  I recall reading a recent article that said 66 of Florida's 67 counties elect a "sheriff" which is what makes me ask this question.

JSO personnal are technically "police officers" their badges say "officer" not deputy ....
But Miami-Dade Police is technically a sheriff's office. I believe that's the only agency in FL with that designation. The Dade County Sheriff's Office was relabeled the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1981 so Jacksonville could go that similar route and create a similar department.

[Steve]

It would require a change to the City Charter, which is a process. JSO is a bit of a hybrid that came from consolidation in 1968. The men and women on the street are Police Officers, their cars say both Police and Sheriff, and they work for an elected Sheriff.

That's typically the way it goes - a Sheriff is usually elected, where a Police Chief is usually appointed by the Mayor.

Personally, I'm a fan of the appointed Police Chief. One of the things I don't like about consolidation is that on both Crime and Education, the Mayor gets a pass. Not a fan of that.

[fsu813]

Hear me out. Random thought about JSO.
I believe JSO should re image themselves as the "Jacksonville Metropolitan Police Department". Follow the lines of Las Vegas and Louisville. This will give JSO a fresh outlook on their operations and image. I also believed that "Sheriff on the side and Police on the back" was ALWAYS tacky and confusing! Make it make sense and clean it up as "JMPD". This fresh start approach by JSO and the new "to be" Sheriff could create a more attractive (for job openings) and trustworthy (for the community) organization. JMPD sounds professional, clean and easy to understand. On an internal operational viewpoint, nothing major will change (Just like Vegas, there will still be an elected sheriff, etc) but  on the outside, everything should improve.

Share your opinions!

ROI = 0

[vicupstate]

It would require a change to the City Charter, which is a process. JSO is a bit of a hybrid that came from consolidation in 1968. The men and women on the street are Police Officers, their cars say both Police and Sheriff, and they work for an elected Sheriff.

That's typically the way it goes - a Sheriff is usually elected, where a Police Chief is usually appointed by the Mayor.

Personally, I'm a fan of the appointed Police Chief. One of the things I don't like about consolidation is that on both Crime and Education, the Mayor gets a pass. Not a fan of that.

It's not common for mayor's to have a say in education. If you exclude big city Northern mayors, like Chicago, it is even more rare.  As a rule, big city mayoral appointed school districts don't have good reputations. 

I can just imagine the Covid mask situation would have been far different if the Superintendent had to answer to Curry and by extension, DeSantis.   

[jaxlongtimer]

^ There is also the issue of span of control.  How many elements of the community can a mayor effectively manage at once and do it properly.  LOL, we seem to have a hard time just finding mayors to manage well what they currently have responsibilities for.

There there is the politics of it all.  Do we want to have checks and balances or an all powerful mayor with an agenda like DeSantis has as governor?  Lately, DeSantis is sticking his nose into every nook and cranny of life in this state (just this week, inserting himself into a drag show controversy in Miami), asserting his self-serving agenda at the expense of many Floridians.  Hate to see that model added to the local level.

[vicupstate]

^ Also, the JAX Mayor has a direct and very substantial input on the Police BUDGET, and if you control the money, you can control lots of things.

[Steve]

New York is another place where the Chancellor of School is appointed by the Mayor. This has been this way only since around 2000; previously it was basically our setup (Board of Education appointed).

I can see the checks and balances argument. My biggest gripe though is with both issues the Mayor can pass the buck.

I do realize that with the quality of some of our elected officials of late (on both sides) that in order for my thoughts to work you need a really strong Mayor.

Covid is a consideration, but I'd also say that in the structure of government I think we can all agree this was a REALLY rare situation and I don't think Covid should drive the government structure.

[jaxlongtimer]

I can see the checks and balances argument. My biggest gripe though is with both issues the Mayor can pass the buck.

With education, I don't see how the mayor can pass a buck he never possessed.  With our current setup, the buck is fully in the lap of the school board and superintendent.

The main thing re: education that I hold Curry accountable for is/was leading, or not leading, the City Council to put through the referendum to raise money for our public schools.  He can also be a cheerleader that the community looks to for our schools and the value of education.  But, other than that, he should be grateful he doesn't have to get an earful about many of the issues coming before school boards today.  It would be a full time distraction, especially with the addition of DeSantis's agenda regarding "Don't Say Gay" and not teaching about slavery, etc. in a way that might offend whites.  This, along with renaming schools after Confederate leaders (heck, Curry can't even get Confederate monuments removed )

Crime is a different story.  First, Curry ran on crime as an issue central to his mayoral agenda so he put himself front and center in the line of fire.  Second, he controls the budget for JSO (for which he does little to nothing to create transparency or accountability).  Third, he also has some control over other resources that can impact crime such as neighborhood investments (e.g parks and recreation), social and mental health programs funded by the City, job and youth programs (see Kids Hope Alliance), etc.