by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Some people have a perception that Downtown isn’t the safest place to be or bring your family. The best way to evaluate a perception is to examine the evidence and when that’s done, it becomes apparent that Downtown is the safest place to be in the county when it comes to violent crime and property crime.
According to data compiled by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there were 116 murders committed in Duval County in 2008 (the most recent full year of data available). None were committed Downtown. There were 4,605 cases of aggravated assault. Fifty-one of those crimes were committed Downtown. Of the 3,061 robberies committed in the county, 53 happened Downtown.
In terms of burglary there were 12,682 reported in the county, but only 35 were committed Downtown. That year there were 32,922 larcenies, 486 Downtown.
Assistant Chief Chris Butler is the JSO Commander for Zone 1 which includes Downtown. He said there are reasons there is less crime Downtown than in other parts of Jacksonville. Butler credits what he called “Community Oriented Policing Strategies” (COPS) for much of the difference.
“Providing law enforcement services Downtown is different from providing those services in the suburbs. It’s a different kind of population that migrates in and out and special events bring people Downtown from all parts of the city,” he said.
Two of the elements JSO uses to great effect Downtown are bicycle patrol officers and walking beats. Both put police officers on the sidewalk to interact with people and businesses. It’s low-tech but highly effective.
The JSO has also forged partnerships with people and businesses Downtown, creating a sense of “neighborhood” not found in all corners of the county.
One of the partnerships that help make Downtown safe is the Security Community Assistance Network (SCAN). It’s an integration of the JSO with First Coast Security, a private company that serves buildings and parking garages Downtown and at other sites.
Funded by a federal grant, SCAN operates through the deployment of special radios provided to private security officers that connect directly to the JSO dispatcher, said Earle Ginn, senior vice president of First Coast Security.
In addition to the radios that operate on UHF frequencies and employ encrypted digital signals to prevent eavesdropping, JSO also provides training for the private security officers. They learn skills including proper radio communication techniques and how to gather data that can assist police officers in crime prevention or the apprehension of suspects if a crime has been committed.
“SCAN is much faster than calling 911 plus we’re able to provide a trained observer on the scene. It makes our employees and our customers feel safer,” said Ginn.
Another partnership that contributes to safety and security in all parts of Duval County is the Sheriff’s Advisory Council (ShAdCo). The citizen’s councils were established to create a dialogue between the JSO and citizens. It also allows people to report suspected criminal activity and traffic issues in their neighborhood.
Bland Cologne is chair of the Downtown ShAdCo. He said the partnership provides a liaison between JSO, residents and business owners.
“We are a force multiplier on the street, watching for crime and reporting it,” said Cologne. “Downtown is a neighborhood. People know each other and watch out for each other.”
The group meets each month and it’s an opportunity to learn about issues affecting law enforcement from JSO representatives and also for citizens to make suggestions on how to reduce crime and increase security, he added.
Vikki Wilkins is co-owner of the UPS Store on Hogan Street and co-chair of the Downtown ShAdCo.
“Those of us who are here know what’s going on on the street. JSO gets involved after a crime has been committed but a lot of times, we can let them know about things to help keep a crime from being committed,” she said.
Whether you live or work Downtown or come to the urban core occasionally for entertainment or events, know that partnerships are in place that help provide safety and security.
“The bottom line is we encourage people to come Downtown and enjoy it and know we’ll take care of you,” said Butler.
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