Q: Can you give us a year in review recap for 2021?
A: This past year, we introduced new leadership to the Sheriff’s Office, which included a new organizational structure and some new ideas, although we did keep some of the agency’s institutional knowledge. We are not a traditional sheriff’s office in that we do not have an undersheriff; instead, I have five divisions that report directly to me: Corrections, Criminal Investigations, Patrol, General Services, and Operations. I don’t occupy the same physical office as the previous three sheriffs and I think it’s important for effective leadership to have my leaders close for impromptu meetings.
We also restructured with our vision to break up the county into three regions rather than four districts and moved Operations and the Comm Center to the new building off Interstate 95.
Q: What are some other changes and updates that have been made this past year?
A: We continue to increase pay for all employees as a recruiting and retention tool.
We refreshed the graphics on our patrol cars and rebranded the Sheriff’s Office logo.
We updated our offices and the jail with fresh paint, new flooring, and new landscaping so employees can have pride in their workplace. We also added better lights and cameras to the jail.
Q: What other changes were made in the Corrections division?
A: The pay for deputies in Patrol and Corrections is the same. I think this is important. Also new is that the bailiffs and courthouse security are now under the Corrections division, which gives employees in Corrections more employment options.
Q: Can you describe some of the changes in Operations and Patrol?
A: In Operations, we launched our brand new Internal Leadership Academy, which all employees whether sworn or civilian, will attend. The county has approved for us to move fleet operations and central receiving and supplies to a new building to be built on the Training Center property off Interstate 95.
For Patrol, we recently acquired more than 30 acres of land for our Police Athletic League and plan to consolidate our fields, storage, and office space there. Our mounted unit just acquired two new horses, Mason and Jackson and we hope to have them patrolling in neighborhoods by mid-year. We started our bicycle patrol last year and plan to add them to additional neighborhoods this year.
Q: What type of strategic planning are you doing for 2022?
A: As the fastest growing county in the state, I’m planning to present to the county for additional personnel in 2022 as well as increased pay again for the entire agency. With the CPI up by 7 percent, we need to continue to increase pay to attract and retain our employees. We also believe that after a thorough cost/benefit analysis, it is time for the Sheriff’s Office to move to a more feasible building. We still have space at the Training Center for some divisions, but I believe a newer facility with better infrastructure for the Office of the Sheriff, the Criminal Investigations Division, General Services and Community Engagement should be sought, probably somewhere in the World Golf Village area.
Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you with any questions or suggestions about this article?
A: They can email me at sheriff@sjso.org or call me at (904) 824-8304. Also, our website, www.sjso.org has a wealth of resources, from alarm registration to Crime Stoppers to our Neighbors app.
