by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Ken Jefferson made the right choice early on. Fifth grade.
Now he wants a new generation of youngsters to make the right choice, too.
“What actually motivated me was Officer Marvin Young, who came out to our school as Officer Friendly,” said Jefferson, now the public information officer for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. “He told us all about police and what the officers do.
“I immediately joined the Schoolboy Patrol — it’s the Safety Patrol now. We were the crossing guards. And I loved every minute of it.
“My biggest thrill came as a child in fifth grade when I could walk in the street, hold the flag up, and cars would stop. I knew there was something in the making for me.”
Jefferson was put on patrol duty when he started out with the JSO 17 years ago. After two years, he became an instructor at the police academy, when it was located at the dead end of Huffman Boulevard. He taught recruits high-liability subjects, such as firearms instruction, and served as a liaison between them and the department.
In 1990, he was named an administrative detective in the Inspection and Accreditation unit, which is responsible for implementing “the policies, rules and procedures for the sheriff’s office.”
The unit was also responsible for helping the sheriff’s office earn accreditation, which it did for the first time in 1992.
Accreditation confirms that a department abides by “a set of nationally known guidelines,” said Jefferson. “It helps you with credibility and liability, and the department has maintained that status up to now.”
Jefferson moved to the Detective Division in 1997, first in burglary, then the sex crimes unit.
“I did enjoy working there,” he said. “When you hear all these things that people do to children, you want to make a difference in their lives, arresting the offenders and making sure they get the full extent of the law.”
Recruiting was the next stop for Jefferson, who came up with a program to promote diversity after discovering that 70 percent of all employees were white males.
“There were more than 300 white males,” he recalled. “Less than 10 women. Hispanics, less than five. Asians, less than that. There were less than 60 African-Americans.”
Jefferson’s idea was to encourage businesses, corporations — or any other entity — to sponsor potential candidates from the under-represented groups who also met the department’s criteria.
“They gave me a goal of 10 to start off with,” he said. “I got 25. Not all of them made it, but some of them are in the department right now.”
Recruiting continues, but that particular program hasn’t been used “since the numbers started going up.”
“We got attention for it, and individuals started applying,” said Jefferson. “It’s like a good advertising campaign.”
Stressing that he has been “blessed to have served in the various capacities I have,” Jefferson becomes even more enthusiastic when talking about DEFY (Drug Education for Youth).
The program, designed to help at-risk youth between 9 and 12 years old, is a cooperative effort among the JSO, U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Navy and the FBI.
“These kids have not been in our criminal justice system,” said Jefferson. “They are defined by an area of town they live in, pockets in the city where there’s more crime, drugs, alcohol, prostitution and gangs.
“They all happen to live in those areas and are being influenced.”
Those who are chosen for the program start out at summer Leadership Camp, where they learn how to set goals and handle peer pressure. For the first time in their lives, many also learn how to make a bed and keep themselves clean.
“We do a lot of things other than tell them, ‘Just Say No,’” said Jefferson. “We extend the bar. And we hold them accountable to it.”
The program allows for 40 children at a time. There were only eight signed up in 1999.
“We became enthused about this program; we went out and recruited,” said Jefferson. “Then we had 65. I had to leave 25 behind the first year. We were sold on it, and when we put it out in the community, people wanted it.”
There’s a great sense of satisfaction when the bad guys get justice, he said.
“But I think there’s a greater sense of gratification when you see a child, and you can say you had something to do with their successful life,” said Jefferson. “They’re productive. They didn’t fall by the wayside or become a statistic.
“That’s a great feeling. And it’s a very warm feeling when you see the smiles on their faces.”