JSO among 4 agencies selected for DOJ Model Cities Initiative; set to receive $73M over 3 years – News4JAX

JSO among 4 agencies selected for DOJ Model Cities Initiative; set to receive $73M over 3 years  News4JAX

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been selected as one of four agencies in a new nationwide initiative that will provide nearly $300 million in federal funding to strengthen public safety, the agency said. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will receive $73 million over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice through its Model Cities Initiative, federal officials announced Friday. JSO plans to use the investment to add 40 sworn officer positions, expand training and equipment, strengthen its Real Time Crime Center and build on its drone and counter-drone programs, Sheriff T.K. Waters said. The additional officers would expand the agency’s presence across Jacksonville. Waters said. The Real Time Crime Center will be bolstered to help law enforcement make tactical and investigative decisions using current information.

The drone programs will support faster responses and intelligence gathering, he said. The funding will help JSO give officers “advanced education consistent with best practices” and provide the technology and resources needed to keep up with the city’s growth, Waters said. “We’ll create 40 new sworn officer positions so that we can have a larger law enforcement footprint in the city that’s growing in population year over year,” Waters said. JSO was one of four agencies selected nationwide after 47 municipalities applied, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said. The initiative will provide