Mike Williams: Why I Want To Be Your Next Sheriff
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Politics/Sheriff-Candidates/Mike-Williams-2015/i-w5Km7V3/0/L/mikewilliamsbanner-L.jpg)
Mike Williams pens a short guest column explaining why he is running for Sheriff of Jacksonville in the upcoming election. A seasoned, veteran cop, Williams will be contributing a few op ed pieces over the next two weeks about some of the issues confronting Law Enforcement in the coming years. Join us after the jump for his introductory essay!
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-may-mike-williams-why-i-want-to-be-your-next-sheriff
So that's a nice bio/starting paragraph, but let's get to know you by telling us what you want to do; how you plan to do it; so forth and so on. I am still undecided and I don't lean towards the traditional Democrat or Republican status so what I hear from the candidates actually matters and I am sure that there are others who feel the same way. I want to vote for the candidate because I believe that they have a foothold on what needs to be done and how to do it...I don't vote for the party.
Let's a see a response, Mike.
^ the main thing I have heard from Williams (and from several JSO officers) is that he is about the status quo. There is very little fault he finds in the way Sheriff Rutherford has done things over the past decade.
For example Williams says in the article "want to ensure it remains a national leader in law enforcement as well as community model for relationships with partner organizations and the citizens we serve."
is this how most people in Jax. would describe JSO?
This is a tough race for me. I really like both candidates, and my preferred candidate was knocked out in the runoff battle royale. I do appreciate Williams' qualifications. I look forward to reading more of what he has to say.
I really don't understand why Mike Williams isn't for body cameras and radios for the media. Orlando is getting body cams so his argument isn't very valid about privacy.
This thing alone is concerning.
I have heard him speak a few times - he says he isn't opposed to body cameras. He wants to be sure the JSO and the City roll that out right.
I was psyched to hear him at the debate speak about where he doesn't agree with Rutherford. He seemed mad about the loss of officers. He said he wouldn't have let that happen. I think he could bring a fresh approach to JSO keeping the good that is there but tossing what is stale and killing morale. He seems to really believe in the officers and want them to be able to bring their best to Jax. He seems to want to make it about the officers, not just the "top cop".
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/182682
Florida Politics has to be on his payroll. I hate the fact i losing respect for Tony's journalism so fact. His articles are now like watching Fox News. So damn partisan, it's creepy.
Will Mike Williams answer any questions from MJ readers?
Thanks, it would be great to get some answers straight from him.
I would like to see him distance himself from Rutherford, as I don't think Rutherford has been a very good sheriff. If you look at the Sheriff's budget over the years, it has actually increased over time. In my opinion, Rutherford's decision to cut officers was political. He hasn't been a good financial steward of the JSO budget. I plan to vote for Williams as I think he is the most qualified. The fact that he is being endorsed by a whole bunch of "good old boys" doesn't impress me at all. It goes to show he supports the thinking of their generation. If you look around our county, the thinking of the "good old boys" isn't really doing us any good when it comes to police-community relations. I understand that Jacksonville loves status quo and that typically seems to get you elected around here. Real leaders don't settle for status quo, which is really William's only weakness.
During One Spark, since I kinda captive to my area and was interacting with lots different police officers, I decided to ask them who they wanted as Sheriff. I told them I didn't didn't need their reason, just a candidate they prefer to work under.
I talked to 40 different officers over the period of One Spark, 30 answered, and was surprised that overwhelmingly 28 of the 30 preferred Jefferson. When a reason was given, it was because Jefferson "offered a complete personal change of leadership."
I live in a neighborhood with a bunch of cops. They all like this guy. I have heard him speak on TV and listened to the debate. He blew Jefferson away I thought. Jefferson seemed old and tired and how long has it been since he actually worked? Williams just needs to distance himself from Rutherford but overall I think he is the most qualified
Quote from: AmeliasMum on May 07, 2015, 09:11:07 PM
I have heard him speak a few times - he says he isn't opposed to body cameras. He wants to be sure the JSO and the City roll that out right.
I was psyched to hear him at the debate speak about where he doesn't agree with Rutherford. He seemed mad about the loss of officers. He said he wouldn't have let that happen. I think he could bring a fresh approach to JSO keeping the good that is there but tossing what is stale and killing morale. He seems to really believe in the officers and want them to be able to bring their best to Jax. He seems to want to make it about the officers, not just the "top cop".
So that's part of my concern...he may be a great cop who's worked with every department within the organization, but does he have the management aspect down. Can he balance a budget? How can a candidate state that they wouldn't let that happen? Unless you are in the room analyzing figures, you just can't say that you wouldn't let that happen. There are budgetary restraints on ALL budgets.
On a side note, what gets me about politicians are the blanket statements like that that they make, especially when they are not the incumbent. If you have never held the positions of mayor/sheriff/senator/tax collector/etc...then how can you make a statement and expect the voter to take you seriously without you backing up your statement with a plan? (Thanks for allowing the venting.)
Good morning everyone - seeing this dialogue is exciting. I wanted to carve out some time today join you all in this discussion. So let me jump right to the great questions you have posted here. i will be back later today as well to continue the conversation. Thanks!
Quote from: menace1069 on May 08, 2015, 10:00:56 AM
Quote from: AmeliasMum on May 07, 2015, 09:11:07 PM
I have heard him speak a few times - he says he isn't opposed to body cameras. He wants to be sure the JSO and the City roll that out right.
I was psyched to hear him at the debate speak about where he doesn't agree with Rutherford. He seemed mad about the loss of officers. He said he wouldn't have let that happen. I think he could bring a fresh approach to JSO keeping the good that is there but tossing what is stale and killing morale. He seems to really believe in the officers and want them to be able to bring their best to Jax. He seems to want to make it about the officers, not just the "top cop".
So that's part of my concern...he may be a great cop who's worked with every department within the organization, but does he have the management aspect down. Can he balance a budget? How can a candidate state that they wouldn't let that happen? Unless you are in the room analyzing figures, you just can't say that you wouldn't let that happen. There are budgetary restraints on ALL budgets.
On a side note, what gets me about politicians are the blanket statements like that that they make, especially when they are not the incumbent. If you have never held the positions of mayor/sheriff/senator/tax collector/etc...then how can you make a statement and expect the voter to take you seriously with your backing up your statement? (Thanks for allowing the venting.)
As far as the budget management goes, I can tell you when I was Director of Patrol & Enforcement I managed almost $200M of the agency's budget - both in personnel and operations. Every two weeks, I would go over line by line to see where we were at and what issues might need to be addressed before an overage occurred. I made sure I could explain what we spent and why, not only to the Sheriff but also to the officers. It helped them better understand what challenges the agency faced. Those challenges are not going away but I am committed to showing not only the officers but the community what the agency is doing with the budget.
If you are still there I have a question. Is JSO ready for an ISIS attack like what happened in Texas?
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 07, 2015, 03:32:29 PM
^ the main thing I have heard from Williams (and from several JSO officers) is that he is about the status quo. There is very little fault he finds in the way Sheriff Rutherford has done things over the past decade.
For example Williams says in the article "want to ensure it remains a national leader in law enforcement as well as community model for relationships with partner organizations and the citizens we serve."
is this how most people in Jax. would describe JSO?
You know that is a great point - within the industry of law enforcement the JSO is one of a few recognized as a Triple Crown Accredited agency for exceeding national benchmark standards. However, the community of Jacksonville is likely not aware of that. Citizens of Jax know what they see, hear and experience themselves. That's why I think it is so important to improve community engagement. As Sheriff, I will have strong relationships with other city leaders and that is important. But what I see as being more important is for residents to know the officers assigned to their neighborhoods - by name - and to have a strong relationship them. There is no substitution for that kind of trust and cooperation that can be fostered between the community and the JSO.
Quote from: Keef11 on May 08, 2015, 10:48:06 AM
If you are still there I have a question. Is JSO ready for an ISIS attack like what happened in Texas?
The concerns related to terrorism weigh on all communities. I know folks have expressed that it seems like a moving target of activities and worry how we can stay ahead of their efforts to erode our sense of security overall. I can tell you that the teams at JSO are significantly prepared to prevent any such activity here in Jacksonville. JSO officers have been trained along side state and federal partners. They are tuned into the suspicious activity reporting that keeps tabs on any questionable activity spotted out there. I served on a regional task force that developed the iWatch Program to share information from citizens and law enforcement agencies. In this arena, prevention is the most important tactic... preparation and response are the other legs of the stool.
I have to head out to an event. As I mentioned earlier, I will check back here later today to address any other questions. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you all. Have a great day!
What about body cameras? JSO is HUGE...like 2000 officers?
Quote from: stephendare on May 08, 2015, 11:07:20 AM
Quote from: Keef11 on May 08, 2015, 09:43:13 AM
I live in a neighborhood with a bunch of cops. They all like this guy. I have heard him speak on TV and listened to the debate. He blew Jefferson away I thought. Jefferson seemed old and tired and how long has it been since he actually worked? Williams just needs to distance himself from Rutherford but overall I think he is the most qualified
The police that Ive spoken to uniformly seem to prefer Mike. The public seems to be evenly divided. Why is it important that the Sheriff is popular with the police? Is there some added benefit to the community?
Also, Ive been impressed with the conversation surrounding this campaign about the appropriateness of the nationalization of police and federal efforts. Mike when I spoke with you, I thought that your viewpoint on the wall of separation between local cops and distant authorities was pretty convincing. Could you speak to that a little more?
Stephen, that is a great question and I believe that the answer is yes, it is important. The majority of the police officers are good officers doing a tough job. When they support another officer, to me it shows that the officer has the right mentality and demeanor for the job; he's a professional in all aspects and is not a rogue cop doing his own form of justice. Being in high opinion of your co-workers is a big deal in any line of work...it shows respect and leadership.
In my opinion, that does better the community when the majority of the officers support the guy they feel is doing the right thing for the community that they work in every day.
Quote from: stephendare on May 08, 2015, 11:07:20 AM
Quote from: Keef11 on May 08, 2015, 09:43:13 AM
I live in a neighborhood with a bunch of cops. They all like this guy. I have heard him speak on TV and listened to the debate. He blew Jefferson away I thought. Jefferson seemed old and tired and how long has it been since he actually worked? Williams just needs to distance himself from Rutherford but overall I think he is the most qualified
The police that Ive spoken to uniformly seem to prefer Mike. The public seems to be evenly divided. Why is it important that the Sheriff is popular with the police? Is there some added benefit to the community?
Also, Ive been impressed with the conversation surrounding this campaign about the appropriateness of the nationalization of police and federal efforts. Mike when I spoke with you, I thought that your viewpoint on the wall of separation between local cops and distant authorities was pretty convincing. Could you speak to that a little more?
Stopping back here to see what questions might have come up... Stephen, I will try to recap our conversation below:
The short answer to that question is that I am not for nationalization of any police force and I think that the federal government should stay out of local policing.
We have had examples of that here, we had TSA move to expand into stopping people at bus stops and on roadways under the umbrella of preventing terrorism, but we never had a direct threat. While we have partnered with various federal agencies when we had specific threats, the idea of TSA or any other government agency patrolling our streets is not something we should be comfortable with. I was at the table with state level TSA officials to advise them that we were not going allow that in Jacksonville.
Quote from: MikeWilliams on May 08, 2015, 10:49:31 AM
You know that is a great point - within the industry of law enforcement the JSO is one of a few recognized as a Triple Crown Accredited agency for exceeding national benchmark standards. However, the community of Jacksonville is likely not aware of that. Citizens of Jax know what they see, hear and experience themselves. That's why I think it is so important to improve community engagement. As Sheriff, I will have strong relationships with other city leaders and that is important. But what I see as being more important is for residents to know the officers assigned to their neighborhoods - by name - and to have a strong relationship them. There is no substitution for that kind of trust and cooperation that can be fostered between the community and the JSO.
Thank you Mike....community engagement and transparency have been severely lacking under Rutherford. I sure hope that, if elected, you start changing that on day 1.
Quote from: Keef11 on May 08, 2015, 11:01:01 AM
What about body cameras? JSO is HUGE...like 2000 officers?
JSO currently has 1600 sworn officers - yes, it is an incredibly large organization. The body camera conversation is not a simple one. I have been getting this question every where I go, so I recognize that it is on the minds of so many of you. I have decided to capture my response on video and uploaded it to my YouTube page - click here to watch it: https://youtu.be/biAMsYMwOUU
We have a busy weekend planned. I will check back here on Saturday to continue talking with you all.
Have a great weekend! And thanks again
I commend you Mike for joining the conversation. Your openness to this type of communication speaks volumes.
I agree with tufsu1 that community engagement and transparency have been severely lacking under Rutherford. Your idea for residents to know the officers assigned to their neighborhoods is a fantastic plan. I encourage you to share these types of ideas because they distinguish you as somebody different than the current status quo. I don't want another Rutherford.
So I have a couple of questions.
What are your views on how we currently handle mental health calls in Jacksonville? Are you familiar with what police departments like San Antonio are doing as far as de-escalation training and how they are responding with empathy and understanding, rather than force? What is the point of intersection of homelessness and mental health and is JSO proactive or reactive when it comes to dealing with individuals who fall into either category?
Do you think that JSO currently does a good enough job "policing" itself? Are there systems in place to identify officers who have patterns of misconduct or who rack up citizen complaints? Are these systems working and is JSO doing a good enough job of disciplining and firing officers who do not uphold the oath to protect and serve? Does JSO have high enough standards for its officers?
I wish these were the types of issues that the debates were focused on. I'm so sick of the negativity and the questions about your personal finances, etc. (local media is petty) No wonder people tune out and just don't seem to care anymore. ::)
I look forward to your thoughts.
Quote from: brainstormer on May 08, 2015, 04:41:49 PM
I commend you Mike for joining the conversation. Your openness to this type of communication speaks volumes.
I agree with tufsu1 that community engagement and transparency have been severely lacking under Rutherford. Your idea for residents to know the officers assigned to their neighborhoods is a fantastic plan. I encourage you to share these types of ideas because they distinguish you as somebody different than the current status quo. I don't want another Rutherford.
So I have a couple of questions.
What are your views on how we currently handle mental health calls in Jacksonville? Are you familiar with what police departments like San Antonio are doing as far as de-escalation training and how they are responding with empathy and understanding, rather than force? What is the point of intersection of homelessness and mental health and is JSO proactive or reactive when it comes to dealing with individuals who fall into either category?
Do you think that JSO currently does a good enough job "policing" itself? Are there systems in place to identify officers who have patterns of misconduct or who rack up citizen complaints? Are these systems working and is JSO doing a good enough job of disciplining and firing officers who do not uphold the oath to protect and serve? Does JSO have high enough standards for its officers?
I wish these were the types of issues that the debates were focused on. I'm so sick of the negativity and the questions about your personal finances, etc. (local media is petty) No wonder people tune out and just don't seem to care anymore. ::)
I look forward to your thoughts.
Wow, I have questions also, but would love to see these two questions talked about in real speak. I would like to know when Mike Williams will be online, to have a conversation ever if it's short.
have you seen the video from Dover Delaware in 2013 released today? What are your thoughts on this? How can citizens trust police when they see videos like this?
Body (and dashboard) cameras may in fact protect police from being falsely accused.
Quote from: brainstormer on May 08, 2015, 04:41:49 PM
I commend you Mike for joining the conversation. Your openness to this type of communication speaks volumes.
I agree with tufsu1 that community engagement and transparency have been severely lacking under Rutherford. Your idea for residents to know the officers assigned to their neighborhoods is a fantastic plan. I encourage you to share these types of ideas because they distinguish you as somebody different than the current status quo. I don't want another Rutherford.
So I have a couple of questions.
What are your views on how we currently handle mental health calls in Jacksonville? Are you familiar with what police departments like San Antonio are doing as far as de-escalation training and how they are responding with empathy and understanding, rather than force? What is the point of intersection of homelessness and mental health and is JSO proactive or reactive when it comes to dealing with individuals who fall into either category?
Do you think that JSO currently does a good enough job "policing" itself? Are there systems in place to identify officers who have patterns of misconduct or who rack up citizen complaints? Are these systems working and is JSO doing a good enough job of disciplining and firing officers who do not uphold the oath to protect and serve? Does JSO have high enough standards for its officers?
I wish these were the types of issues that the debates were focused on. I'm so sick of the negativity and the questions about your personal finances, etc. (local media is petty) No wonder people tune out and just don't seem to care anymore. ::)
I look forward to your thoughts.
Hey everyone - good morning. Hope everyone's weekend is off to a great start with this phenomenal weather.
I am happy to check in and see you all continuing the conversation. Hope I can hit on all the points you have presented:
MENTAL HEALTH - All JSO officers receive Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) early in their careers. This model training program teaches officers deescalation and intervention techniques so that we can minimize arrests and assist those in crisis in seeking treatment. Jail should not be a treatment program.
JSO CONDUCT - I am confident that JSO does a good job of policing itself. There are several overlapping systems in place to identify officers who may be engaging in misconduct such as Internal Affairs Red Flag, the Integrity Unit and an Officers Chain of Command who regularly reviews complaints made on officers. The public should expect officers to be held to a higher standard of conduct and I absolutely agree with that perspective.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 08, 2015, 07:43:33 PM
have you seen the video from Dover Delaware in 2013 released today? What are your thoughts on this? How can citizens trust police when they see videos like this?
Body (and dashboard) cameras may in fact protect police from being falsely accused.
Anytime we have to watch acts of violence it is disturbing - each individual incident that goes viral does begin to erode the trust in law enforcement and that is why transparency is so important to me. I want to open up the agency and see a number of ways we can do that: building those relationships at the neighborhood level (I want folks to know officers by their name and vice versa), making the Response to Resistance (RTR) process open to the public again. (It was closed due to union lawsuit - I think it is critical for the public to know what is going on throughout the investigations). And taking advantage of the new technology that is available that our budget can work to afford - body cameras, faster & more durable computers for officers in the field, as well as partnering with existing smartphone apps to bring police and community closer.
Gotta head back out - thanks again. I will aim to get back here tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to celebrating my mom and my wife tomorrow - don't forget Mother's Day. And please encourage everyone to VOTE - it's too important for Jacksonville not to have everyone participate. Polls are open EVERY DAY 10am-6pm. Have a good one!
Good morning everyone.
Hope the week is off to a great start and no one was stuck in that horrible traffic from the tragic accident on I-95.
This week is action packed as I will be participating in two live televised debates: Weds night on WJXT and Thurs on WJAX. Looks like the Wednesday night debate is the only one permitting an audience in attendance. If anyone has interest in attending, contact our office for details 904.235.9863. Headed out today to a candidate forum hosted by the Jacksonville chapter of the Meninak Club. I will check back here this afternoon. Have a great day!
I've read more about both candidates. It looks like you are the most qualified. I also had my co-worker tell me that Ken doesn't pay child support or taxes. Is that true? I don't want to get negative but if a guy owes money can he still be Sheriff? My co-worker also said that you had credit issues too. Can you please tell everyone the TRUTH!
Mike, where do you stand on police radios for the media? They've offered to pay but Rutherford still cited cost as an issue.
I appreciate the answers he gave to two questions I had, and wondering if he can provide a phone number to his campaighn for follow up? Thanks
Quote from: coredumped on May 12, 2015, 12:48:46 PM
Mike, where do you stand on police radios for the media? They've offered to pay but Rutherford still cited cost as an issue.
Good question: Cost is not the concern I have regarding the media having access to police radios - my concern is in protecting the rights of the citizens of Jacksonville. JSO is accountable for ensuring that CONFIDENTIAL or EXEMPT information is NOT broadcast in real time to non-emergency responders. It is our responsibility to make sure that communication to the public does not include information about anyone reporting an emergency, the identity of a victim, location of a crime victim, etc. Real time radio transmissions with confidential information are not only prohibited by Florida law, but it would be wrong to expose those victims to further victimization,not to mention to expose the agency (and taxpayers to a level of liability). This is not about journalists, it is about protecting citizens from the release of confidential information about them.
Quote from: Jax native on May 12, 2015, 01:06:20 PM
I appreciate the answers he gave to two questions I had, and wondering if he can provide a phone number to his campaighn for follow up? Thanks
Campaign Phone is (904) 235-9863 - email is info@MikeWilliamsForSheriff.com
Best effort for follow up is to have a conversation - if you call the campaign office, we can advise you to my schedule. I know there are some community meet-ups coming up this week/weekend. It would be great to have you come out.
Thanks you, Mr. williams for your quick response. One more question if I may, within the past month Law Enforcement agencies around the State of Florida was awarded millions of dollars, I believe from confiscated items used during criminal activities. I'm unsure what the exact name of this program is. JSO received, again, I'm not sure on the amount, but seem to remember about $500,000. JSO spokesman Hackney stated JSO will use it to upgrade equipment. Do you know exactly how much JSO received and could this money go for body cameras? Thank you,
Stephen, I have no right to ask you about recent comments, as this is an open forum. Two comments above have been openly rude, and have no place in a conversation one of the candidates for Jacksonville Sheriff. Mike Williams has given us his time and efforts answering serious questions. I would hope you are able to mute the asinse comments a few are stating in this serious conversation. It is disrespectful to Mike Williams and members who are talking to and with Mike Williams.
I feel he is a guest on MJ, not a member of the group, and should be treated with respect he has given to us.
Quote from: stephendare on May 12, 2015, 12:13:05 PM
Mike, when you say that you would pursue more social media for community policing, what would that entail?
Last night, there was discussion about being undermanned to provide safe streets. Is that true?
Would the legalization of marijuana have any effect on the amount of manpower needed? Or does the cost reflect the sheer number of street miles that the police force must patrol?
COMMUNITY POLICING: Social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook are helpful for real time interaction with sharing information between citizens and the agency. JSO also has interactive crime mapping online where folks can enter their own police reports. I think JSO can further expand its capabilities by connecting to message board platforms such as NextDoor.com to both notify and engage with people about what is happening in their neighborhoods.
POLICE STAFFING: We have a history in Jacksonville of low investment in law enforcement and we are below the national average in officers per 1000 citizens (We are at about 1.8, and the national average is 2+).
Quote from: Jax native on May 12, 2015, 02:06:51 PM
Thanks you, Mr. williams for your quick response. One more question if I may, within the past month Law Enforcement agencies around the State of Florida was awarded millions of dollars, I believe from confiscated items used during criminal activities. I'm unsure what the exact name of this program is. JSO received, again, I'm not sure on the amount, but seem to remember about $500,000. JSO spokesman Hackney stated JSO will use it to upgrade equipment. Do you know exactly how much JSO received and could this money go for body cameras? Thank you,
Last month JSO was awarded $600K from federal forfeiture for a criminal case from 2012. The monies are designated from the US Attorney Office and is a portion of the assets from the case. JSO will use those funds for equipment as is mandated by the program. While it is a significant amount of money, it is not enough to launch a Body Camera Program.
Thank you for your comments, Mike. You've definitely helped make up my mind. Count me in.
NPR had a report today on the city of Oakland and their Citizens Police Academy. From what it sounds like, people get an opportunity to interact with officers and learn more about the operations of the police dept. and the challenges of being a police officer. It is meant to encourage dialogue and understanding in the community. I immediately thought about your idea to have officers meet the citizens in the neighborhoods they protect.
I believe in learning from others and the program in Oakland is something you might want to learn more about. Perhaps something similar could be implemented here in Jacksonville.
http://www.coj.net/departments/sheriffs-office/citizen-involvement/citizen-academy.aspx
JSO has the citizen's academy as well as a ride-along program.
Another avenue for citizen interaction with JSO is the SHADCO program - look it up on their website.
Wow! Thanks Ralph. I've lived in Jacksonville since 2007 and didn't know any of this. Perhaps there are good things happening at JSO that the average person has no idea are happening. Maybe JSO needs to be more proactive about sharing the good things about the department. Sadly, we can't rely on local media to that.
Mike,
If you're still checking up on the board, my question is this:
According the numbers posted to the FDLE website and from data pulled from your own department, it appears as though there is no demonstrable 'spike' in violent crime and from '11-'13 (the latest specific information available) there was actually a drop in violent crime across the board to the tune of -1% in total crime and -2.3% in crime rate.
With your opponent pushing a 'No more of the same' campaign against you, why hasn't your campaign committee jumped on and campaigned based on the actual numbers (i.e. departmental performance) instead of playing along with the overall public perception that there's a tremendous increase in crime that's generated by the media?
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 14, 2015, 05:21:59 PM
Mike,
If you're still checking up on the board, my question is this:
According the numbers posted to the FDLE website and from data pulled from your own department, it appears as though there is no demonstrable 'spike' in violent crime and from '11-'13 (the latest specific information available) there was actually a drop in violent crime across the board to the tune of -1% in total crime and -2.3% in crime rate.
With your opponent pushing a 'No more of the same' campaign against you, why hasn't your campaign committee jumped on and campaigned based on the actual numbers (i.e. departmental performance) instead of playing along with the overall public perception that there's a tremendous increase in crime that's generated by the media?
The crime numbers have been important to address in the many of the opportunities I have had to speak because we are at a 40-year low in crime. In 1974, the number of murders was in the low 70's and Jacksonville's recent data shows the murder rate at the same number range. Additionally, the spectrum of reported crimes has been impacted - basically meaning less "kinds" of crimes are occurring such as home invasions, car thefts, etc.
However, violent crime is up and that is directly related to the drug trade here in Jacksonville. Drug dealers and/or gang activities are the key hubs to the violence we are seeing. That's why I have focused my campaign on the key elements will impact the violence issue: community engagement (more officers out to the neighborhoods) and budget management (doing more with less).
Thanks for your questions
Mike, first let me say I am new to this forum and find it VERY IMPRESSIVE that you are taking the time to answer questions. I have one more question. You said you were Director of Homeland Security for JSO. What does that mean?
Thanks Mike for taking the time to speak with us at MJ.
Quote from: Keef11 on May 15, 2015, 11:02:28 AM
Mike, first let me say I am new to this forum and find it VERY IMPRESSIVE that you are taking the time to answer questions. I have one more question. You said you were Director of Homeland Security for JSO. What does that mean?
While the Director of Homeland Security and Investigations I had responsibility for every investigation by our detectives and all of our Crime Scene Investigators. I also commanded the Intelligence Unit, SWAT team, Air Unit, K9 Unit, Narcotics Unit, Vice Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and many others. JSO is fortunate to have some of the best detectives in the Country.
I found this good article today on William's committment to the community. Not sure you seen it yet Mike.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545449
Thank you for your response.
I'd like you to expound a bit on this:
Quote from: MikeWilliams on May 15, 2015, 10:53:26 AM
However, violent crime is up and that is directly related to the drug trade here in Jacksonville. Drug dealers and/or gang activities are the key hubs to the violence we are seeing.
We have seen some states
1 completely legalize the sale, possession and consumption of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, and it appears as though more are poised to follow suit. There are bills in the House that are pushing for the ending of the prohibition of marijuana.
I'm unaware of the type of drugs that are at the core of the crimes, but would have to assume that the illegal sale, transportation and use of marijuana contribute a lot to the statistics.
As sheriff, would you be willing to take a proactive stance in the decriminalization of this soon to be 'legal' drug in order to reduce the amount of both drug crime and violent crime in Jacksonville?
One would also think that by being out in front of this and having the groundwork laid, both you as new sheriff and whomever is elected mayor would be able to hit the ground running and use the taxes generated to assist in funding some of the holes in the current budgets.
Presumably in a perfect scenario, less crime would require less impact on the current officers while the additional tax stream could provide more allowances in the budget for other needed programs.
----------------
1. To date, four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana (however, D.C.'s model continues to ban sales), 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and 11 other states have legalized the limited use of low-THC forms of marijuana for medical use. http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/Marijuanataxrevenue2015.pdf
Where is the Ken Jefferson thread out here? Or is he too busy on WJXT? ::)