Q: Can you share some general Back to School safety tips?
A: As the first day of school is Aug. 10, I’d like to remind everyone to be alert and prepared as they are getting back to the routine of going to school. Remind your children who walk to wait for a light, look both ways, and cross the street at a crosswalk. Make eye contact with stopped drivers before crossing a street so you know they see you. Obey school crossing guards. Students should wear helmets if biking or skateboarding to school.
If you are driving your children to school, put down your electronic device and remain alert, especially for small children.
As for when to stop for a school bus: if you are on a four-lane road with a raised median, you are not required to stop if going the opposite direction of the bus. If you are going the same direction as the bus, you must stop. You also must stop in both directions if the four-lane road has just paint on the pavement (no raised median), or on all two-lane roads.
Q: What can you tell us about the schools’ Youth Resource Deputies?
A: As background, the St. Johns County School District has a $5.1 million contract with SJSO to provide deputy sheriffs, known as Youth Resource Deputies, in schools. This covers 69 percent of the salaries and benefits of the 59 Youth Resource Deputies, since when school is not in session, we reassign these deputies to general activities. The 59 Youth Resource Deputies cover 40 public schools as well as Capt. Peggy Tennyson and her two lieutenants. We also have a permanent juvenile civil citation deputy to handle youths who commit misdemeanor-type crimes. This year we added two threat assessment deputies to respond to an increasing number of threats to schools, such as bomb threats.
This year, I challenge students and parents to get to know their school’s Youth Resource Deputy. Feel comfortable with them so that you can address issues in your school and build a relationship.
Q: What is new this year for the school deputies?
A: This year, we will begin implementation of the wearing of body cameras for our Youth Resource Deputies. During an educational period, students, school staff and parents will learn more about the body cameras and then the Youth Resource Deputies will begin wearing the cameras later in the school year.
Q: Can you explain more about Fortify Florida?
A: Fortify Florida is an app created in the wake of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It allows users to easily report suspicious activity instantly to law enforcement and school officials. Users may remain anonymous and we encourage all residents, not just parents, to download and use the app if they see something suspicious to report. If you see something, say something!
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.
