by David Chapman
Staff Writer
“How many of you feel safer today than you did in 1991?”
That was one of the questions Sheriff John Rutherford posed to more than 50 members of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Council during its bimonthly meeting Friday. No one raised their hand in response.
Rutherford was ready to dispel the perception, though, with statistics in hand.
“You’re actually twice as safe today as you were in 1991,” he said, citing statistics on violent crime for the two eras. “But what we do have are more crimes that involve the use of a gun.”
Rutherford met with the organization as a way of “getting the message out” about keeping guns safe and in the hands of their rightful owners, sharing the latest statistical information on crime and informing them of the ways the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is keeping the public aware.
“I want them to know the truth and nothing but the truth,” said Rutherford.
A comment regarding Downtown Council’s involvement with Landon Middle School students drew the praise of Rutherford and began the discussion on community solutions for crime.
“Mentoring is incredibly, incredibly important to this community,” he said.
Rutherford referenced the disparaging findings from the “2009 State of Jacksonville Children: Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report” released by the Jacksonville Children’s Commission earlier this year and the importance organizations like Downtown Council have in curbing negative trends through mentoring.
“Even if it’s just an hour a week,” said Rutherford, “mentoring makes a tremendous difference in the lives of children ... I try to encourage everyone I can to just get involved.”
He wasn’t the only one asking questions, though, as the members of Downtown Council fired away inquiries of their own including Rutherford’s plans for the future on the job.
“We’re looking at introducing a piece of legislation,” he said, following up a question on gun enforcement. “A problem we have is people selling guns to people not legally able to carry them.”
To combat this, the legislation would call for sellers and buyers to present a purchaser’s permit that verified both parties had undergone background checks and were able to legally make the transaction. How to enforce such a policy was another question, which Rutherford said would be similar to the actions undercover drug officers perform.
The final question was job-related as well, but it wasn’t so much about his position as sheriff as it was another position it’s been rumored he’d seek.
“I’m not going to run for mayor,” he said, laughing, “but I do want to look at another term for sheriff.”
By June 2011, Rutherford said most of those in leadership positions within the JSO would be leaving or gone and many officers will have retired in what he calls a “generational transformation.” He’s been working on succession plans for those positions and officers and said he wanted to be in the position to see it through and ensure things go smoothly.
As for Downtown Council, President Jepp Walter said receiving a visit from Rutherford always leads to an entertaining and informative event.
“I always find it interesting to know what is going on in the community from his perspective and I found the piece of legislation he was thinking of introducing a good idea,” said Walter. “He’s always straight forward and upfront with us about things and we appreciate it.”
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