by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
A Jaguar football player is not someone criminals expect to see patrolling the streets with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit. But for a few criminals that is sometimes a reality.
Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford has always had an interest in law enforcement. After talking to officer Kim Varner of the JSO about his interest in police work, Varner told Wilford to “come on out” on a civilian ride-along.
“He came out and he really enjoyed it,” said Varner, who handles security for the Jaguars during the regular season.
Wilford, a fourth round draft pick in 2004, said law enforcement has always intrigued him. Wilford’s first ride-along proved to be eye-opening.
“Being in the NFL you have the opportunity to be exposed to so many different things,” said Wilford, who is a Virginia Tech graduate. “The ride-along is something I wanted to do and I had a blast doing it.
“It really is a life changing experience.”
So far he has gone on two ride-alongs and Varner said Wilford can go as many times as he would like. When asked if he plans to go on more ride-alongs, Wilford said “oh yeah.”
“I have a new found respect for police officers. They have an at-risk life,” he said. “Every day they put their lives in danger and a lot of people don’t realize that.”
When civilians participate in a ride-along, Varner said they go with the narcotics unit, a unit he has been with for 14 years. They go out on two different types of stings: buy/bust stings and reverse stings.
Varner explained when officers do buy/bust stings, two undercover officers ride around in a attempt to buy drugs from a dealer on the street. After the drugs are bought, three take-down cars come in and those officers apprehend the dealer.
When officers are doing reverse stings, they’ll go into a known drug area. The officers will disguise themselves and sell the drugs themselves.
“We arrest who buys the drugs from us,” said Varner. “When we do civilian ride-alongs, we generally do buy/bust stings.”
Wilford said if he decided to take a job in law enforcement after his playing days are over, he would want to be in the narcotics unit.
“The narcotics unit is the only way to go,” he said. “There were times in different situations where guys are coming out the front door and the back door — and officers’ lives are in danger. But, they control the stings very well.”
Wilford admits that he’s been watching more TV shows like “Dallas SWAT” and “The First 48” since participating in the ride-alongs. Varner said civilians are instructed not to get involved, but sometimes it’s inevitable, to an extent.
“I was right in the middle of it. If someone took off, I had the opportunity to chase them down,” said Wilford.
Wilford said despite the mask he wears, one suspect did recognize him.
“I am covered up well, but he said he recognized me by my eyes. I just walked away,” said Wilford, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 220 pounds. “My height might give it away, but I do have my hair covered up.”
Varner said Wilford didn’t need to use a lot of disguises because he rides in the take down vehicles. Only undercover officers need to disguise themselves.
“Ernest is in the vehicle until they are ready to go out and get one (a suspect),” said Varner.
Some of the things Varner uses to disguise himself are dread lock wigs, gold teeth and face scars. But, he said people still recognize him by his eyes as well.
Wilford related law enforcement to playing football and said they are very similar because both jobs require a great deal of cooperation and a certain level of competitiveness.
“You have to depend on one another,” said Wilford. “You have to be at a certain spot at a certain time. And you have a lot of things to focus on.”
Varner said if Wilford decides to work in law enforcement after he retires from the NFL, he’ll fit right in.
“Especially if he is a narcotics detective. You have to have the gift to gab,” he said. “You need to come up with an answer quick when they (a drug dealer or buyer) ask you a question.
“I believe he can handle that.”