Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

On Thursday, a Jacksonville City Council subcommittee continued what is billed as a “comprehensive crime reduction inventory.” However, crime reduction may not be the only law enforcement concern for the legislative panel: A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report this week revealed that Duval County ranks 66th in terms of crimes solved. Its clearance rate hovers […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2018

Baseball terminology may be out of season, but no matter: this week’s developments show that all the work Northeast Florida lawmakers have done in recent months has paid off. For the second straight year, Fleming Island Republican Rob Bradley will helm Senate Appropriations. This year, a close ally is also handling the House budget. Gov. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

Earlier this year, a suspect shot and killed Fang, a 3-year-old Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9. The German Shepherd chased the suspect into the woods, and that was his last chase. A 9 mm handgun saw to that. JSO and the larger community grieved. And now, via area state Sen. Aaron Bean, a legislative remedy: A bill […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 12, 2018

Jacksonville’s body camera program, launched in pilot phase last summer, is now on pause. The issue currently: procurement. The open question: how long the process takes. The Florida Times-Union reported Thursday that 200 officers will get cameras in 2019. “Once the procurement process is complete, JSO will use the awarded funds to acquire and deploy […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, a first-term Republican up for re-election in 2019, widened in May his cash lead over his sole challenger. The sheriff brought in $14,550 off 38 contributions last month. All of that money went into his campaign account, as he had no committee fundraising. All told, Williams has $192,000 in his political […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Wednesday rolled out the ‘KEYS 2 Drive’ (Knowledge Empowers Your Success) diversion program. The program will help those facing primary charges of driving without valid licenses, or suspended or revoked licenses, to get valid drivers’ licenses. Of the 12,000 people faced with that fate last year, estimates are […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Police Officer Lance C. Whitaker, a 17-year veteran. Scott ordered the U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, City Hall in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville, and the Capitol in Tallahassee, from sunrise […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 22, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott was in Jacksonville Tuesday morning, with what his office called a “major announcement” regarding “Florida’s safe communities” and the 2017 FDLE Crime Report. Crime rates have decreased during the Scott era (from a 40 year low to a 46 year low and now, a 47 year low), and his trumpeting of the statistical decreases […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 22, 2018

Rep. Kim Daniels, a Jacksonville Democrat, filed a pair of bills Monday that could bring changes for Duval County students. One mandates more crossing guards. The other orders evaluations for students pre-graduation. HB 1453 would require that Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office post crossing guards at all schools in Duval that serve students from grades K through 8, superseding previous legislation. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 12, 2018

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams has a Democratic challenger for re-election — ensuring that there will, in fact, be a policy debate ahead of the 2019 vote. Tony Cummings, who also ran in 2015, filed Friday. Thus far, he is the only other candidate in the race. In 2015, Cummings vowed to “rebuild the trust of the […]

Tag: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Jacksonville Council members won’t blame Sheriff for low crime clearance rates

Jacksonville Bold for 11.29.18 — Payoff pitch

Fang death inspires Aaron Bean to protect police K-9s, horses

Body cameras to be back on Jacksonville police sooner than expected

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams widens cash lead in re-election bid

Duval County rolls out drivers license restoration program

Flags at half-staff for JSO officer killed in wreck

Rick Scott trumpets another record low state crime rate

Kim Daniels bills would mandate K-8 crossing guards, annual student evals in Duval

Reform-minded Democrat Tony Cummings enters Jacksonville Sheriff race