by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
For 29 years, Sheriff-elect John Rutherford slowly worked his way through the ranks of the police department. On April 15, he reached the top when he was elected by a landslide to succeed his two-term predecessor, Nat Glover.
Over those three decades, Rutherford watched thousands of police officers come and go. Other than personnel turnover, Rutherford says there has been virtually no change in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office since Consolidation in 1968.
That may be about to change.
Last week, Rutherford unveiled his plan to overhaul the entire JSO with a major emphasis on reorganization. In a nut shell, Rutherford’s plan involves changing the entire JSO from a three-department agency to one with five. Of those five, two would be retained — the departments of Corrections and Police Services — while three new departments would be created — Patrol & Enforcement, Investigations & Homeland Security and Personnel & Professional Standards.
Rutherford insists his changes in no way reflect a difference of opinion or management style from Glover or his desire to run the agency his way. The reorganization is more of attempt to update an agency that has remained primarily in tact — with the exception of an expanding police force — for the past 34 years.
“Essentially, the structure of the agency has not changed since Consolidation,” said Rutherford who, like the other recently-elected officials, will take office July 1. “The only real change came in 1995 when Sheriff Glover gave an official title to the Department of Corrections. Since Consolidation, there has always been a Department of Operations and Department of Services.”
The changes will not cost anyone their jobs. In fact, through the course of the restructuring, several high-ranking officials will actually get promotions, heading the newly-created departments. According to Rutherford’s proposed reorganization plan, six new positions, costing $680,848 annually, will be created. Conversely, six other positions will be reclassified at a savings of $411,137 annually. The net difference is an additional $269,711 in salary and benefits.
However, Rutherford says, in addition to the changes being long overdue, he’s also looking out for the future of the area and responding to the nationwide concern about homeland security. His proposal is currently in ordinance form and must be approved by the three City Council committees — Rules, Finance and Public Health, Safety & Education — before reaching the full Council.
“I’m bringing it to the table for two reasons. One, to get a better handle on the growth the JSO has experienced. The department is on the verge of becoming too big and unmanageable,” said Rutherford. “Two, it’s also being done in anticipation of the growth in Jacksonville we are about to experience.
“On the campaign trail it became apparent Jacksonville is on the cusp of huge growth. I want the agency to be ready for the growth and not playing catch up.”
Under Rutherford’s plan, the current director of Operations would head the new department of Patrol & Enforcement, while two new directors will be appointed to head Investigations & Homeland Security and Personal & Professional Standards. Additionally, there will be a chief of Professional Standards and a chief of Homeland Security & Narcotics/Vice.
Overall, Rutherford insists there will be very little shake-up and the changes will be subtle. In the long run, he sees a better run, organized and managed police force.
“This creates a better structuring for the commanding of the organization and better unity,” he said. “Certain units will be back where they belong. When all is said and done, this is really an attempt to balance the work load.”
Rutherford said he also plans to add officers, but doesn’t have a number in mind.
“It will be based on some of the reorganization,” he said. “The mayor’s office has given us the ability to hire 40 officers over the cap. We have the money in place, but we have to be able to recruit them and train them. That’s a huge task.”