by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
As an act of appreciation and congratulations, Judge Lance Day sponsored a luncheon last week for 14 Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police bailiffs who are leaving the courthouse to become full-time police officers on the street.
“I wanted to do something special for these guys,” said Day. “(As bailiffs,) they really have a tough job.”
Though the bailiffs are already state certified law enforcement officers, they will have to complete approximately six months of additional street readiness training to become full-time JSO street officers.
As police bailiffs, the officers are considered part-time JSO law enforcers.
Assistant State Attorney Angela Corey said the bailiff program is a great way for Florida law enforcement officers to learn the ropes of the judicial system before they hit the streets. She said it is a great program for officers that pass the state certification training program but do not get hired right away as street officers.
“This group has a real advantage over regular police recruits because they are in a courthouse day in and day out,” said Corey. “They get to see all aspects of the court system.”
Day concurred, saying the bailiff program has been successful by readying officers for street duty.
“It’s an excellent training program,” he said. “All of the other judges are very pleased with the results of the program. It gives the officers a chance to see how detailed their work has to be on the street.”
Twenty-nine year JSO veteran Sgt. G. G. Outlaw Jr., is one of five supervisors for the program. Outlaw said the program is “a very, very valuable experience” for the officers as they prepare for the next step in their careers.
“Now they know how the judicial system works,” he said.
For example, Outlaw bailiffs learn first-hand things like courtroom demeanor, how a jury is picked and how evidence is presented.
Though Day is happy for the officers, he said he regrets they are leaving the courthouse.
“I am looking forward to seeing these guys out on the street but we will miss them here,” he said.