A NEWSLETTER FOR AND ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES OF THE JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The
VOL. 14, ISSUE 1, 2008
Employees of the Year
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SHERIFF’S MESSAGE
Murder: Reducing Gun Violence
This January 2008 letter is a reprint of the
Sheriff’s letter to the members of the 2006
JCCI Study: “Murder: Reducing Gun Violence” and accurately reflects our commitment to addressing crime in Jacksonville.
With the success of our first violent offender notification meeting in December,
our re-entry program DISMAS is well underway. This was a significant milestone,
because it means that the Jacksonville
Sheriff’s Office has now completed ALL
FIVE recommendations pertaining specifically to law enforcement, and one that is
directly impacted by our prevention efforts,
all made by your committee in its final
report.
Recommendation One: Target the killing
among young adult men.
In the spring of 2006, we launched Operation Safe Streets with covert police activity
focusing on violent crime associated
with drugs and illegal guns. Through a
concerted effort with the State Attorney’s
Office, a special prosecutor was assigned
to these capital cases, and 10-20-Life
began to mean something in Jacksonville.
We now have more than 125 inmates in
our Pre-Trial Detention Facility awaiting trial
for murder.
Recommendation Two: Get illegal guns off
the street.
By the summer of 2006 we had introduced our “See It, Say It, Stop It” gun
bounty program, and tips increased more
than 200 percent from the previous year.
Multi-agency initiatives, such as Operation
Roadblock North and Roadblock South
netted many arrests and took guns, drugs
and many dangerous criminals off the
street.
We also created our Gun Squad, partnered
with federal law enforcement and brought
Project Safe Neighborhoods tactics to
Jacksonville, and enhanced our focus on
“time to crime” tracking of these illegal
weapons.
Recommendation Seven: Improve the relationship between law enforcement and the
community.
A key component of OSS is the “knock
and talks.” This means utilizing officers
proactively engaging the law-abiding community in discussions about their neighborhoods and the issue of gun crime and
drugs.
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Through funding for officer overtime from
the City Council and Mayor, we were able
to meet with, speak to and share information with more than 31,000 citizens at their
homes and businesses in the six months
that this concentrated effort took place, encouraging them to call in tips anonymously
or work directly with police. This amplified
police presence had the desired effect, and
in the second half of 2006, we impacted the
murder rate with a 38 percent decline.
This policing philosophy continues, and
since the rollout of OSS, we have seen our
Sheriff’s Advisory Council membership grow
to exceed 2,000 members. For those who
are not familiar with it, this is a forum where
citizens meet directly each month with the
police who work in their neighborhoods.
They can speak frankly, the relationships
are built over time, and our officers are held
accountable to these members for keeping them apprised of what is being done to
address the crime problems in their area.
Our ShAdCo citizen-members understand
that reducing or eradicating crime in any
neighborhood is done through a long-term,
trusting relationship with the police which
the ShAdCo program fosters.
Recognizing that a large percentage of
Jacksonville’s population lives in apartment
complexes (16-21 percent), and a disproportional amount of violent and property crimes
occur where there is human “density,” the
JSO is now part of the nationally recognized
Multi Family Crime Free Communities program, out of Mesa, Arizona. With a threepart certification process (that can take up
to a year in order for owners/manager to
meet all requirements), these management
companies and renters are partnering with
police and evicting those who engage in
criminal activity on the property. Our goal is
to “certify” every apartment community, motel and hotel in Jacksonville as a Crime Free
Community and leave the criminal element
no options for housing – while reinforcing
trust and partnerships with the law-abiding
residents in these communities.
Finally, the JSO engaged in the Study Circles
led by the Mayor’s Neighborhoods Department, under the facilitation of Charlene Taylor Hill. Many members of JSO’s appointed
staff participated in the program.
Recommendation Nine: Differentiate drug
traffickers from users.
We know, all too well, that the street level
drug deal is “ground zero” for most of the
murder and violence in our community. This
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means it is also a nexus for illegal guns
and violence. Users, buyers and sellers on
every level of the drug trade are culpable
for the proliferation of illegal guns and related violence, not to mention prostitution,
property crimes, and organized crime.
We’ve built cases where, for example, one
pill bought by an undercover officer in the
Five Points area was “flipped” all the way to
an international drug trafficking operation
based in the Netherlands.
By working our sources and engaging the
drug culture at the street level, we gather
valuable intelligence that often leads to
arrests and prosecution of major drug dealers and even international operations. At
any given time our Tactical, Mid-Level and
Long-Term narcotics squads, along with
our High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
(Federal) partners, are working to enforce
the laws and develop cases. Our Violent
Crimes Task Force is a combination of homicide and narcotics detectives who work
these most violent, drug-involved homicides
and drug enterprises.
Recommendation Twelve: Rehabilitate inmates and ex-offenders.
As I mentioned at the beginning, our most
recently implemented program, DISMAS, is
now underway. This notification meeting for
violent offenders returning to Jacksonville
allows them to meet with service providers and choose a new and more productive path for their futures. The enthusiasm
by participants at the first meeting was
astounding. We’ve been committed to successful re-entry for years at the JSO with
our successful Matrix House rehabilitation
program, GED classes and life skills programs, just to name a few.
In 2007, we took over administration of the
Jacksonville Re-Entry Center (JREC). Now
there is a true “portal” for any ex-offender
to obtain information about services and
programs from one source, and we can
make sure there are comprehensive offerings, with programs and services that meet
the needs of these individuals and that we
can monitor and measure. Now, with the
advent of DISMAS, I believe a continuum
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SHERRIF’S MESSAGE
SHERIFF’S
MESSAGE
“First Six” African
American Police
Officers Honored
Continued from page 2
for re-entry help and access to needed
services now exists for ex-offenders living in our community.
Recommendation Eleven: Help children
succeed in school.
Although not a direct responsibility of
law enforcement, no program serves
as a better example of helping children
succeed in school, and in their adult
life, than the after-school academic and
athletic programs of the Police Athletic
League. (www.jaxpal.org)
Additionally, we now have the Project
Safe Students and Schools program
ready to implement through our School
Resource Officers. As this program
awaits DCSB approval, I am confident
that it will prove to be another successful tool for early intervention and,
ultimately, prevention of more serious
crimes and problems in and out of the
school environment.
In conclusion, please visit our website at
www.coj.net/jso and read more about all
of these initiatives. You will see a Murder
Report, where the results of all the Operation Safe Streets initiatives, including
the Gun Bounty, are updated continually.
If you need any assistance in navigating the site, or desire more information,
please call my office at 630-2538, and
we’ll be happy to answer questions or
assist you.
Sincerely,
John H. Rutherford
Sheriff, Duval County
__________________________________
• Although we ended the year in 2006
with 110 murders, following a decline
in 2005 of 91, this is less than the 136
projected by crime analysts, based on
the first quarter actual incidents of that
same year.
COVER: 2008 Employees of the Year
(l-r standing) Police Sergeant Avelino S.
Elegino, Zone 3; Detective Jim E. Davis, Violent
Crimes Task Force; Corrections Officer Hubert
T. Hensley, Pre-Trial Detention Facility
(l-r seated) Angela Fouraker, Patrol Division,
East; Corrections Sergeant Donna S.
McWaters, Montgomery Correctional Center
Not Pictured: Volunteer of the Year L. Jon
McEwen
(l-r) Mrs. Alma Harley, widow of Henry
Harley; Paul Tutwiler, Northwest
Jacksonville CDC; former Sheriff Nat
Glover; and Sheriff John H. Rutherford,
JSO; at the Jan. 16 dedication ceremony.
The marker honors the six African
American men who are credited with
breaking down the racial barriers at the
former Jacksonville Police Department
(JPD). It will be placed at the site of
the former Blodgett Homes Housing Community, where the men were originally
stationed.
The historical marker honors Henry Harley, Edward Hickson, Sr., Alvin James,
Beamon W. Kendall, Marion Massey, and Charlie Sea who were hired in 1950
and served in the first “Colored Division.” These men served as pioneers who
opened the doors for men and women of all races and ethnicities to serve as
Police Officers in today’s Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The event was sponsored by the Durkeeville Historical Society, Comcast Cable,
Inc., Northwest Jacksonville CDC, the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Police
Officers, Inc., and the JSO.
OPERATION SAFE
STREETS Overtime
Starts Again
On Thursday, Jan. 31, Sheriff Rutherford
(photo right) announced the return of
Operation Safe Streets (OSS) with police
officers working overtime in “Hot Spot”
neighborhoods.* The press conference,
held at the JSO Property and Evidence
Warehouse, showcased guns taken off
the streets because of arrests or citizens
calling police as part of the Gun Bounty
program, which began in August of 2006.
OSS is JSO’s crime fighting initiative that
successfully reduced the murder rate
during the last six months of 2006 by 38%, through the overtime and other police
activities, covert and overt. The OSS overtime officially restarted on Feb. 2 and
from then until Feb. 29, more than 500 officers had participated in the “Knock
and Talks” and contacted more than 5,900 citizens. The patrols put officers on
the streets interacting with citizens, building relationships, learning about specific
crime concerns in the “Hot Spot” neighborhoods, and gathering intelligence as
well as handling enforcement duties. OSS demonstrates that to be effective police
officers must be on the streets, not only enforcing the law and making arrests, but
also patrolling the neighborhoods and interacting with law abiding citizens.
*The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved Sheriff Rutherford’s request for $3 million to
fund the overtime costs necessary to run OSS’s amplified patrol presence on January 22, 2008.
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25192 CYFA_DISPATCH.indd 3
The Durkeeville Historical Society and
the Northwest Jacksonville Community
Development Corporation (NJCDC)
honored these individuals during a
historical marker dedication ceremony
held on Jan. 16.
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2008 Employees of the Year and Citizen of the Year
On January 17, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office recognized six Employees of the Year and the Citizen of the Year for
2008. The six recipients of the Employee of the Year Awards were all former Employees of the Month during 2007.
“These outstanding employees work day-in and day-out demonstrating excellence and commitment to their chosen
profession of law enforcement,” said Sheriff John H. Rutherford during the presentations.
POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Burger King
Detective Jim E. Davis
Det. Davis received the Police Officer of the Year award because of his ability to close
challenging cases while assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force. He won for his
outstanding work locating suspects in the murder of Dreshawna Davis in the summer
of 2006. Davis was also recognized for assisting detectives from Bay County who were
investigating a home invasion robbery suspect who lived in Jacksonville.
CORRECTIONS OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Coggin Automotive
Corrections Officer Hubert T. Hensley
C.O. Hensley received the Corrections Officer of the Year award because of his dedication
to maintaining order in the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. In September of 2006 he sustained
injuries while protecting his fellow officers. In addition to winning the Corrections Officer
of the Year award, and the February 2007 Corrections Officer of the Month, Hubert
received the Purple Heart for his injuries and was also recognized as a Finalist for the
Florida Sheriff’s Association 2006 Corrections Officer of the Year Award.
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Solantic
Angela Fouraker
Executive Secretary Angela Fouraker is the Civilian Employee of the Year because
of the excellent results she produced while assigned to the Community Affairs
Division (CAD). She was responsible for ensuring that the day to day operations of
the division ran smoothly and she also assisted with the numerous charity events
CAD participated in. This included events such as the 2005 and 2006 Light the City
motorcycle rides which raised, combined, more than $100,000 for COPS and PAL. She
also coordinated the Annual Sheriff’s Cup Golf Tournaments for those two years.
VOLUNTEER/RESERVE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nimnicht Chevrolet
L. Jon McEwen
Mr. L. Jon McEwen received the 2008 Volunteer of the Year award because of his
volunteer efforts in the Community Affairs Division in 2005 and 2006. He was
responsible for revitalizing the “Neighborhood Watch Program” in several areas of
town, and has been widely recognized by the community for his hard work. Mr. McEwen
was awarded the Florida Crime Prevention Association’s “Volunteer of the Year for
2005” and the “President’s Volunteer Award” presented by the President’s Council
on Service and Civic Participation in December of 2006. He was unable to attend the
awards ceremony on Jan. 17 and will be recognized at a later date.
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2008 Employees of the Year and Citizen of the Year
POLICE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Stein-Mart
Police Sergeant Avelino S. Elegino
Police Sgt. Elegino received the Police Supervisor of the Year award because his
experience, leadership, and values serve as strong motivation for his fellow officers in the
Zone 3 (Southside/Mandarin) Community Oriented Policing Strategies (COPS) Unit. As
a supervisor, Elegino is responsible for the COPS Squad and supervises the San Marco
Problem Response Officer. He does an excellent job managing his team and producing
outstanding results.
CIVILIAN/CORRECTIONS SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Bealls Inc.
Corrections Sergeant Donna S. McWaters
Corrections Sgt. McWaters received the award because she is an excellent supervisor who
has worked as a “supervisor in charge” in the Montgomery Correctional Center for four years.
Her responsibilities include overseeing the Community Projects Team, the K-9 Search Team
and the Security Program. She also coordinated and scheduled Operation Corrections in
Actions (Operation CIA) during the 2004 hurricane season.
As a part of Operation CIA, Sgt. McWaters worked with residents in need of assistance. She
was able to network with other government agencies to solve difficult problems. Donna located
specialty equipment, such as wood chippers, and heavy equipment to aid in the storm clean
up. McWaters is dedicated to creating strong, measurable results for the JSO.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Mr. Steven T. Halverson, President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Haskell Company, and Trustee, Jacksonville Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Steven T. Halverson received this award because of his
commitment to public safety and the citizens of Jacksonville.
His dedication to rallying the business community’s support
of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Operation Safe Streets
initiative and its Gun Bounty program was essential to the
success of the programs. The 2008 Citizen of the Year, Steve Halverson, has been a
community steward for many years. “Steve Halverson, as a
trustee of our Chamber of Commerce, mobilized the financial
support of other business leaders so we could properly launch
our Gun Bounty program. The financial commitments he
garnered made it possible for us to get the $1,000 reward into
the hands of tipsters. The results were amazing,” said Sheriff
John H. Rutherford.
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LettoersurfrComitizens
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Chaplain’s Corner
Police Officer David Spicer #6937 ... from Ms. Kathleen A. Clayville emailed to [email protected] I just wanted to let someone know that I had a flat tire
today on Phillips Highway [right near St. Augustine Road] and this very nice policeman named Officer David Spicer stopped to assist me… I just can’t thank
him enough for his help!! He went out of his way ~ I am sure he had much better things to do with his time. Yet he did not hesitate to get dirty and change
my tire for me. His actions “speak” volumes of the kind of people employed on
the police force and I for one am happy that JSO is there when needed.
Sheriff John H. Rutherford … from Terry Smith emailed to [email protected]
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate what you and your officers do
every day. I enjoy my freedoms because of your sacrifices. Thank you for your
unselfish dedication. I am proud of each and every one of you.
JSO Participates in
Woodland Acres Cleanup
(l-r) Zone 2 Police Officers James Watford,
Dan Will, Kevin Zehler, Sgt. Danny
Williams, Ms. Linda Farris, Volunteer,
and Ofc. Brian Myers were among the
10 officers and 100 volunteers who
participated in the Woodland Acres
Cleanup on Feb. 2. The participants
collected 67 tons of mixed litter and
debris, 4.6 tons of yard waste, 312 tires,
10 household appliances and one stolen
car. The event was organized by
Lt. Michael Beckmann, Zone 2.
On Feb. 29, Ed Hinchey, Law Enforcement Liaison for BAE
Systems Products Group, inducted Det. Jared Reston into
the Legion of Life, a national program that recognizes
officers who are injured in the line of duty but survived
due to their body armor, developed by American Body
Armor. BAE Systems Products Group, the parent company
of American Body Armor, provided a replacement vest for
Reston, and for more than 500 other officers saved in the
line of duty while wearing a bullet-proof vest.
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Psalm 39:11
Friends, everyone needs to be
reminded that we are no better than
anyone else. Conceit is a killing vice
in the Christian life. God created us
all equal. His image rests equally
with every human being. Sometimes
God has to bring us back to earth
when we get too puffed up. Those
who exalt themselves will be
humbled, while those who humble
themselves will be exalted.
Prayer: O Lord, don’t let us think too
much of ourselves. When we turn
our attention inward, we lose sight
of who You want us to be. Let us be
honest and open with ourselves,
and help us find new ways to grow.
Amen.
Please remember the door to the
Chaplain’s Office is always open
at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
Director Kelly Retires after 35 Years
JSO Detective Inducted into Legion of Life
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When thou with rebukes dost correct
man for iniquity, thou makest his
beauty to consume away like a moth:
surely every man is vanity.
FOP Vice President Robbie Freitas presented
Director A. L. Kelly with his official shadow box,
commemorating 35 years of valued service to the
JSO, at the Director’s retirement party on Feb. 22 at
the FOP Lodge.
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JSO IN ACTION
The concerns of Zone 3 ShAdCo Members were
addressed at a joint meeting on Feb. 21 at Wolfson
High School.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (3rd from left, front
row) is surrounded by members of the Justice Coalition, along
with honored guests and homicide victims’ family members,
during the Justice Coalition’s 6th Annual “Together We Can”
fundraising and public awareness breakfast on Feb 21.
Starting Feb. 21 “Glenn in the Afternoon” on WBOB
1320 now features the Sheriff. He will be on the show
every other Thursday and can be reached live on the air
by calling 904-854-1320 between 5-6 p.m.
Sheriff Rutherford and Assistant Chief David Coffman,
Community Affairs, “duke it out” at the Florida Sheriff’s
Association Mid-Winter Conference hosted by JSO in Feb.
Teachers and administrators from Highlands Elementary
School join in during the Feb. 19 Crime Prevention Walk
in Zone 6.
On Feb. 12, City Councilman Warren Jones (L) and City
Councilwoman Glorious Johnson (R) were joined by Sheriff
Rutherford as they presented PIO Ken Jefferson with an
official proclamation recognizing him as the Florida Law
Enforcement Public Information Officer’s Association PIO of
the Year for 2007. It was his second year winning the award
from his peers around the state.
For DISPATCH article contributions or ideas,
contact Katie Seay at 630-2102.
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EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
JANUARY 2008
Employees of the Month
L-R Standing:
R.O. Frederick J. Joseph II; C.O. Mark Gross, PTDF;
Sgt. Raymond Beltz, Zone 6
L-R Sitting:
PECO Janet G. Brown; Det. Carla Roberts-Jones,
Burglary
Not Pictured: Corrections Sgt. Scott A. Umstead,
PTDF
FEBRUARY 2008
Employees of the Month
L-R:
Corrections Sgt. Mike Jowers, MCC; R.O. Gary
Carlson; Police Ofc. Jimmy W. Britt, Zone 6; C.
O. Michael S. Henry, PTDF; Police Sgt. Lonnie J.
Mills, Property and Evidence Unit; PECO III Joe E.
Fooshee II
Congratulations to our five recent appointees: (l-r) Assistant
Chief Ron L. Lendvay, Crimes Against Persons; Chief Mark S.
Richardson, Community Affairs and Special Events Division;
Assistant Chief Bobby L. Deal, Community Affairs; Director
Dwain E. Senterfitt, Department of Investigations and Homeland
Security; and Chief Richard M. Graham, Detective Division.
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Police Ofc. Chris L. Kornegay, Zone 3; Police Ofc.
Ryan T. Fraser, Zone 4; Police Ofc. David J. Couch,
Zone 4; and Det. Latosha Agnew, Burglary Zone 5,
each received a Lifesaving Award at the Feb. 28
awards ceremony for their heroic actions on duty.
Congratulations, all.
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