New mission for Edward Waters College: A police academy?

Chris Smith, a Democratic state senator from Fort Lauderdale, has introduced a bill that may go a long way toward ensuring that Jacksonville’s police department looks more like Jacksonville itself.

If SB 772 becomes law, historically black Edward Waters College would be merged with a police academy, with the goal of conferring criminal justice degrees and training more minority law enforcement officers.

During the local sheriff’s race, a big topic at recent candidate forums has been how to increase diversity in the sheriff’s office.

Current Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford told WJXT-TV that he supported the initiative, saying that it would be “good specifically for agencies like Jacksonville.”