RESEARCH DIVISION
SPECIAL PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES
August 2, 2016
9:33
a.m.
Lynwood Roberts Room
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Sam Newby (Chair), Bill Gulliford (Vice Chair), Aaron Bowman, Anna Lopez Brosche, Katrina Brown, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan; Council President Lori Boyer was in attendance; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John J. Jackson, Yvonne Mitchell, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 9:43 a.m.
Sheriff Mike Williams offered several observations on crime prevention initiatives and a presentation on the JSO’s plans for the use of body cameras.
The Sheriff announced that JSO is committed to a lean and efficient manner of operation. He specifically referenced efficiency with regard to the budget. JSO is abandoning the use of winged aircraft for transportation of prisoners. The department will rely on commercial airlines. In abandoning its winged aircraft, JSO will be avoiding costly maintenance of an aged aircraft, saving a considerable amount of money.
JSO is committed to actively engaging the community in its crime prevention initiatives and law enforcement program. He spoke of the significant work of Neighborhood Watch groups and the Sheriff’s Advisory Councils (SHADCO). Neighborhood meetings are being held on a monthly basis with neighbors having an opportunity to meet and know JSO officers assigned to their respective neighborhoods.
The Sheriff indicated that four community committees were established in August. The committees with make recommendations for JSO to consider and issue reports. The committees are comprised of neighbors in the communities. The committees include a committee on resources; a committee on training; a committee on community engagement; and a committee on transparency.
The Sheriff explained JSO’s use of its resources and overtime funds in its efforts to reduce violence in challenged neighborhoods. In its violence reduction initiatives, JSO has been partnering with John Jay College to see what other cities around the country are doing and to share data.
Turning to JSO’s body camera initiative, Sheriff Williams explained that the issue on launching the initiative has always been the costs and sources for funding. The Sheriff said that he and his colleagues have paid close attention to the Los Angeles, California police department’s body camera program. He explained that in looking at other cities’ experience, JSO hopes to avoid problems that other cities had encountered; it is imperative to get the right technology.
In launching a body camera program, the Sheriff explained that JSO would embark on a pilot program in the spring. The pilot program would be a six month undertaking with the expectation that a body camera policy will be developed. The Sheriff expects to see the body camera program in next year’s and subsequent years’ budgets.
Council Member Katrina Brown recommended that JSO be more transparent with and in close contact with the City Council members. She would like to see more partnering and communication. Noting that the body camera pilot program will be starting in March, Council Member Brown asked the Sheriff how JSO will pick areas to focus on. The Sheriff explained that the program would be city-wide and would not necessarily be concentrated in high crime areas.
Council Member Bill Gulliford inquired whether JSO had considered the use of drones.
In response to an inquiry of Council Member Tommy Hazouri, Sheriff Williams explained SHADCO’s composition.
Council Member Joyce Morgan discussed the excellent relationship she had with the JSO zone officer that is assigned to her area of Arlington. She explained how Officer Mitchell is in contact with her on a regular basis, keeping her abreast of developments in her Council District. He is present at her Town Hall meetings and other events.
Sheriff Williams described the good, positive feedback that has come from the walks that he and his officers periodically take in various neighborhoods throughout the City. He said that people always expressed their appreciation for the police presence in their neighborhoods. The Sheriff feels that Jacksonville is heading in the right direction.
Council Member Aaron Bowman asked the Sheriff if he knew how the body camera program fared in other cities. The Sheriff explained that the use of body cameras has reduced the number of complaints about police behavior.
Council President Boyer inquired whether or not the Public Health and Safety Committee wanted to merely gather data and information or wanted to be involved with creating policy with regard to the body camera program. She feels that it is imperative that we get a handle on the costs of a body camera program (the hardware, IT resources, and other expenses that the program will incur). The Council President indicated that she would like to have data associated with the costs of the body camera program available by the time the budget process commences.
Sheriff Williams reported that JSO is looking into grants for additional sources for funding the body camera program.
Council Member Katrina Brown would like the head of the School Board’s police to meet with the Public Health and Safety Committee.
Council Member Katrina Brown wanted to know how the City Council could become involved with the recruitment of potential police officers and JSO job fairs.
Council President Boyer explained that the City Council is scheduled to have a joint meeting with the Duval County School Board in the near future and that that might be the best and more appropriate time to raise issues concerning security in the schools and the School Board’s police officers.
In response to an observation offered by Council Member Bill Gulliford, Sheriff Williams explained that he had eliminated the possession of a college degree as a requirement in the hiring process for new police officers. He felt that in doing so, the pool for recruitment was broadened. A college degree is still required to advance through the ranks once you are a part of the department.
Council Member Joyce Morgan recommended that a future PHS Special Committee meeting might have shot spotters as a topic for discussion. The Sheriff gave a brief explanation of the mechanism of having gunshots identified by sensors.
In a presentation by the Health Department, Dr. Kelli Wells segued from the Sheriff’s remarks to health issues by linking the impact of violence on the public health. Dr. Wells pronounced violence as a genuine public health issue. She will address this issue further at a future PHS meeting.
Dr. Wells provided an update on the Zika virus. Printed memoranda and material had been distributed to the committee and staff. Dr. Wells continued to underscore preventive measures such as emptying containers of standing water. She reported that the Health Department continues to work closely with the City’s Mosquito Control Division. Task force meetings have been underway. She reported that plans are underway for door-to-door canvassing to educate the public on the Zika virus issues and to conduct screenings.
The Chair announced that the topic for the next special committee meeting would be community policing.
There being no further business, the meeting of the Special PHS committee was adjourned at 11:09 a.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
08.05.16
Posted: 7:00 a.m.