Post by Chuck McCue on May 12, 2022 18:35:28 GMT -5
News you can use from the Jacksonville Beach Police Chief, Gene Paul Smith:
October 4, 2023
Greetings,
The General Investigations Unit (GIU) obtained an arrest warrant for Trafficking in Illegal Drugs that began as an overdose/death investigation. Due to several risk factors, our SWAT team was utilized to arrest the suspect. A vehicle-takedown was initiated on The Greens Way, which resulted in his successful apprehension...
A shooting/homicide occurred in our core downtown area this month. GIU detectives and crime scene investigators were assigned to the case, and they quickly indentified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. Because of the nature of the charges, the SWAT team was again utilized. SWAT members contacted the suspect at her residence in Mayport and took her into custody without incident; she is charged with Murder...
The Traffic Unit experiment continued to produce impactful results and continued receiving great support from the community and fellow officers. They also filled in during critical incidents, providing much needed manpower because of staffing shortages...
Dogs are now allowed on the beach all hours of the day as long as they are leashed ...
Air Show planning continued for the event which is scheduled next month. The show will be much shorter in duration and have less activities per the US Navy and the City of Jacksonville.
September marked the two-year anniversary of the death of Sergeant Daniel “Dan” E. Watts. Please keep him in your thoughts ...
We assisted numerous law enforcement agencies during the Fletcher High School versus Sandalwood High School football game by providing on-duty personnel around the outside of the stadium. This was a rivalry game, and we experienced fights and disturbances in the past. Towards the end of the game, a call was received regarding a possible gunshot, which caused mass panic. There were approximately 25 officers in and around the stadium, and no officers heard any shots. Additionally, no evidence and no witnesses were located to support the allegations. Order was restored, and the game ended early.
Chief Gene Paul N. Smith
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
101 Penman Road South
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
904-247-6343
------------
September 1, 2023
All,
The department began its annual media campaign concerning traffic/pedestrian safety for the beginning of the school year. Each day, starting on August 1, we shared information with the public on back-to-school safety, safe walking/biking routes to each of our schools, general student safety, reminders for drivers about school zones, and information on school crossings.
Additionally, the traffic unit conducted intensive education and enforcement in an around school zones for two weeks. During the first week, warnings were predominately given to educate and remind drivers to drive with caution and obey all traffic laws. The second week, officers began issuing citations.
We began Class 49 of the Citizen Police Academy. The class is being hosted by our new civilian crime prevention specialist, Eden Meyer. Eden works in the Records Section and volunteered to participate in a pilot project (crime prevention specialist) to test the viability/effectiveness of this position. The goal is to increase community engagement and decrease the workload on sworn officers. She has been integral in making it a great success so far.
The department completed training this month on the use and application of Narcan to treat opioid overdoses. Narcan has been issued to all current officers, and will continue to be issued in the future.
The Detective Section hit a major milestone this month in the Bridegan homicide. After 18 months of investigation, we made the third arrest in Jared’s case. This case drew intense local and national coverage. We arrested Shanna Gardner, the ex-wife of the victim, for 1st Degree Murder. We have much left to do to prepare the case for trial, but this was a big deal to us and the victim’s family. These arrests gave the victim’s family great comfort and brought immense satisfaction to all of us here. The most sacred duty a law enforcement officer performs is investigating a homicide, because we speak for the victim who no longer has a voice.
Hurricane Idalia forced the city into a state of emergency over two days. The Category 4 storm, although coming from the west coast, could have caused significant damage to our city if it maintained its original track. Fortunately, the storm took a westward turn, and we had almost no affects. An emergency operations center was activated at the police department and was staffed by representatives from all city departments. There were no incidents or damage related to the storm.
Last weekend, our wonderful volunteers helped with the 4th Annual Corporal Andy Lavender Memorial 5k Beach Run. This annual event raises awareness concerning suicide prevention among law enforcement and first responders.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
-----------
May 1, 2023
Greetings All,
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was very successful. The event was held at the police station, and residents dropped off unused and/or old prescriptions. A total of 256 pounds of prescription medications were collected in only four hours!...
Last week, both sworn and civilian members of our department participated in the 2023 Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The one-mile event celebrates and brings attention to Special Olympics and is held at law enforcement agencies throughout the country March to May....
Reminder: April 1 – September 30, no dogs are allowed on the beach from 9 AM to 5 PM.
The second full week of April was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Most people not in law enforcement do not realize that without these dedicated professionals, also known as dispatchers, the whole system would collapse. If you happen to request emergency services in the future, please thank them for their service.
At the City Council workshop this month, the Police Department delivered three presentations in one night. We highlighted our accreditation program and what it takes to be one of only 750 agencies out of 18,000 agencies in the U.S. to hold CALEA accreditation status. We also did a drone flight demonstration in Council chambers to show off the capabilities of this new program. Finally, we did a TASER demonstration, and Council Members Bill Horn and Fernando Meza bravely volunteered to get TASED. It was the highlight of the night, and there are videos that exist, but you will have to conduct your own investigation to get one. 😊
National Volunteer Week was April 16 – 22. Our volunteers mean so much to us, and we are so thankful for each and every one of them. We absolutely could not accomplish our mission and goals without them. On behalf of every member of this agency, WE THANK THE VOLUNTEERS!!!!...
Detective Ikram attended the 2023 Street Cop Training Conference this weekend in Nashville as an exhibitor. Over 500 officers from around the country were in attendance, and Detective Ikram showcased the Jacksonville Beach Police Department as the best agency to work for. Our agency and our badge (shown prominently during the presentation) were singled out by the organizer during opening ceremonies as innovative and amazing for allowing her to travel to the conference to recruit....
The Downtown area was crowded all month when the weather was nice. The annual Springing the Blues Festival drew the largest crowd to the area this year. I am happy to report that despite large crowds all month, we again had no major incidents.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Sergeant Dan Watts created the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer (OLEO) Awards approximately five years ago. After Dan’s death, Mrs. Nelson renamed the awards the Daniel E. Watts OLEO Awards in Dan’s honor. This year, JBPD Senior Corporal Morris G. Ingle was awarded the Lifesaving Award for saving the life of a suicidal person who was threatening to jump from a bridge. JBPD Detective Meho Custo was awarded the Investigative Excellence Award for his work as a DEA Task Force Officer.
We continued our successful efforts in enforcement of criminal street gangs, illegal drugs, and illegal firearms....
We currently have five officer vacancies; however, we have three new out-of-state officer transfers who start work on May 8. We also have two part-time officers who are progressing quickly through training, and they will provide much needed relief when they go into solo status. In May, we have an upcoming retirement that will create another vacancy. We have three dispatch vacancies and one dispatcher progressing well through training. There are no other applicants processing at this time for police officer or dispatcher.
Master Sergeant C. David Young (currently GIU detective sergeant) has submitted his intent to retire in May after 25+ years at this agency. He will be immediately starting his second law enforcement career with the U.S. Navy as an NCIS Special Agent in his hometown of Naples, Italy. We will miss him and wish him the best. Please feel free to reach out to him and wish him well. We will be sharing retirement celebration invitations soon.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
----------
All,
"Through outstanding investigative efforts by Patrol Officer Shane Jarman, Marcela Marabelli was arrested on January 26th in Missoula, Montana, on a felony warrant for Exploitation of the Elderly and Theft from a person over 65. Officer Jarman's relentless efforts in this case uncovered Marabelli defrauded our victim, a disabled 83-year-old male, for approximately $140,000. Protect yourself by planning ahead to safeguard your assets and to ensure your wishes are followed. Talk to an attorney, your financial advisor, or someone at your financial institution about the best options for you...
The 26.2 with Donna will be running through our city on Sunday, February 5th. Even though the route is mainly on 1st and 2nd Street, North all avenues east of 3rd Street, North between Beach Boulevard and 20th Avenue will be limited to vehicular traffic. We will have officers stationed at intersections and will move vehicles across as runner traffic allows ...
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department and Fourth Circuit State Attorney’s Office announced an arrest in the February 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan. On February 16, 2022, Jared Bridegan was driving home from a planned “date night” with his children. On Wednesday nights, Jared would take his then-9-year-old twins to dinner with their 2-year-old half-sister. He had just dropped his twins off at their mother’s home and was driving to his own home on dark area of Sanctuary Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach. Jared came upon a tire blocking his travel route. That tire was purposely placed there to make him stop. After putting on his hazard lights and placing his car in park, he opened his door to presumably move the tire out of the road. It was then that he was gunned down in cold blood. His 2-year-old daughter remained strapped in her car seat in the back. Nothing was stolen from him and this was a planned and targeted ambush and murder. For almost a year we have investigated the case, seeking to answer the many questions surrounding Jared’s murder and most importantly, to answer the question “who killed Jared?” Henry Tenon, was arrested for the following crimes: Conspiracy to Commit Murder; Second-Degree Murder with a Weapon; Accessory After the Fact to a Capital Felony; and Child Abuse. He did not act alone and the case continues...
In January, 42 of our officers attended annual Mobile Field Force training. Mobile Field Force is responsible for providing a rapid, organized response to events requiring specialized techniques to restore civil order and public safety. We continue to train our officers and supervisors to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to be prepared for any incident they may face in today’s ever-changing environment (see Facebook).
We responded with JFRD to a structure fire which was fully involved. There was a fatality in this fire where one resident perished. A General Investigations Detective worked with the state fire marshal to investigate the blaze. We are still waiting on the results of the investigation, but initial findings indicate the fire was accidental (see Facebook).
Our final rotation of officers returned from Sanibel Island after spending their Christmas assisting in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian. Officer Kuusela who deployed with the last group wrote: “There are signs of total devastation throughout the island. You see cars with buckets of sand all over the floor board, dashboard, and rest of the interiors. There were mangled fences and buildings everywhere. In some cases all that remained where a home once stood is a piece of it's foundation or a handle from a water faucet. The devastation was far greater than you could imagine.” It’s been an honor to assist in the relief efforts for Sanibel PD. Our officers have worked with so many wonderful agencies across the state over the prior six weeks (see Facebook).
Senior Communications Officer (dispatcher) Rachael Bennett and Officer Homer Morodomi retired after 20 and 25 years of service respectively. We currently have three vacant officer positions and four vacant communications officer positions. We have a few viable candidates for each position. One police officer washed out of the training program, one resigned in the first phase of training (was having problems performing), and the third position was from the retirement mentioned above. In addition, I have received two formal notifications reference retirements in 2023 with another two possible this year. We continue to perform much better than most agencies, but recruiting qualified applicants continues to be challenging. I am especially concerned about recruiting for Communications Officers, which is a nationwide problem.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
----------
September 2022
All,
September was busy for us, and we had numerous notable events. At the top of the list was Hurricane Ian. Even though it was to make a west coast landfall, the prediction for our area 72-hours out was up to 20 inches of rain and 60 MPH winds with 70 MPH gusts for up to 24 hours. It was further predicted we would experience serious flooding from both the ocean and the intracoastal. We prepared for the worst case scenario, and thankfully the storm took a track much more favorable to us. We operated a city-wide command post for three days (see attached photo). All officers and dispatchers and a few non-sworn employees worked. We received minor damage with numerous trees and power lines down. I wanted to take this opportunity to mention Beaches Energy and Public Works crews who worked tirelessly for four days to keep the city up and running. I was humbled to witness their efforts.
Officer Thomas Harper was recognized a the winner of the Home Town Hero Award for the entire northeast Florida region. He won for his work here at the Police Department and for his volunteer activities outside of work. As a result, he received a new Hyundai SUV...
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) completed an undercover drug investigation at a residence close to Jacksonville Beach Elementary School. Our SWAT team served the search warrant, and the results are below. What a great job by all those involved!
Ten (10) guns
Crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and methamphetamines
Bullet proof vest
Three (3) arrests with numerous felony charges
We were able to fill several civilian vacancies in September. We are also processing an Animal Control Officer applicant who should come on board in early October. Unfortunately, we have four officer vacancies and only two viable candidates, and they will not be starting until November.
We completed filming our recruiting video last month, and the final copy should be in by November 1. We are excited about the production, and I will send a copy to everyone when it is completed. Below are some still shots from the video to peak your interest.
We received the last of the 12 SUVs ordered this year. They look incredible, and we are planning a photo of all 12 together in the near future.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343"
----------
May 2022
"All,
It was a busy April. With good weather, we experienced large, but mostly problem-free crowds. Now that it is post-COVID, our calls for service are steadily rising again. We will monitor this rise in activity over the summer to determine if this is a trend. Regarding traffic crashes, we are still at pandemic levels (relatively lower than average) even though there is much more traffic on the roadways. It appears our traffic enforcement efforts are paying off. We will also continue to monitor trends in this area.
The Blues Festival drew a huge crowd, but there were no incidents or problems. Hosting large crowds with minimal problems/arrests is semi-new to our department and very encouraging compared to previous years’ experiences.
Regarding sworn vacancies, we have been fully staffed and were the exception compared to the rest of the country over the last three years. However, with three sworn retirements in the last 30 days and multiple civilian positions open (due to employees taking higher paying jobs), I am beginning to see the situation around the country begin to affect our department. For example, we have a purchasing administrative assistant position which has been vacant for 16 months. We are now receiving very few sworn applicants, and we are in a “fight” with other agencies to recruit the few qualified candidates available. In response, we are innovating with our recruiting methods, and I am being advised by outside sources we have an excellent reputation in the police academies and in law enforcement circles.
Sworn vacancies – Soon to be five with two good candidates to be hired within the quarter (from out of town) taking us down to three vacancies.
Dispatch – Two vacancies that have been open for ten years. We have been blessed to have and maintain eight senior communications officers. There are no applicants, and two of our current Communications Officers will be retiring next year.
Admin assistant – Two vacancies with one applicant in the pipeline.
Records – Two vacancies out of four total employees. We have a few applicants, but they are in the beginning stages of processing.
Animal Control – One vacancy created when an employee recently left for higher pay.
We held our annual Police Memorial Week ceremony on May 4. This one was extremely touching because we honored Sergeant Dan Watts. The event was well attended, and sincerest gratitude to all who attended. This week, the Honor Guard will be traveling to Washington DC to recognize Sergeant Watts and to add his name to the Memorial Wall (pictures forthcoming next month).
After the Opening of the Beaches Parade festivities ended, four suspects from Jacksonville engaged in a gun fight next to the Brix bar. Two suspects sustained leg wounds, and thankfully no innocent bystanders were struck. Two guns were recovered, and one of the two wounded suspects was arrested. We are in the process of obtaining arrest warrants for two more suspects involved in the incident.
Our last homicide has gained national attention, and we are still working active leads.
The Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration held a prescription drug “take back” event in front of the police station. In a few hours, over 60 pounds of prescription pills were voluntarily turned in by citizens!
Due to the recent retirements, we are experiencing many changes in ranks and in specialty positions/assignments. Promotions and backfilling the vacancies left from the promotions facilitates a positive environment for change and movement. Recent positions that were filled or will be filled within the week are as follows:
1 Commander;
2 Sergeants; and
2 Corporals.
Once again, the outpouring of support the police department has received recently is always appreciated and never ever taken for granted.
Respectfully,
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343"
October 4, 2023
Greetings,
The General Investigations Unit (GIU) obtained an arrest warrant for Trafficking in Illegal Drugs that began as an overdose/death investigation. Due to several risk factors, our SWAT team was utilized to arrest the suspect. A vehicle-takedown was initiated on The Greens Way, which resulted in his successful apprehension...
A shooting/homicide occurred in our core downtown area this month. GIU detectives and crime scene investigators were assigned to the case, and they quickly indentified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. Because of the nature of the charges, the SWAT team was again utilized. SWAT members contacted the suspect at her residence in Mayport and took her into custody without incident; she is charged with Murder...
The Traffic Unit experiment continued to produce impactful results and continued receiving great support from the community and fellow officers. They also filled in during critical incidents, providing much needed manpower because of staffing shortages...
Dogs are now allowed on the beach all hours of the day as long as they are leashed ...
Air Show planning continued for the event which is scheduled next month. The show will be much shorter in duration and have less activities per the US Navy and the City of Jacksonville.
September marked the two-year anniversary of the death of Sergeant Daniel “Dan” E. Watts. Please keep him in your thoughts ...
We assisted numerous law enforcement agencies during the Fletcher High School versus Sandalwood High School football game by providing on-duty personnel around the outside of the stadium. This was a rivalry game, and we experienced fights and disturbances in the past. Towards the end of the game, a call was received regarding a possible gunshot, which caused mass panic. There were approximately 25 officers in and around the stadium, and no officers heard any shots. Additionally, no evidence and no witnesses were located to support the allegations. Order was restored, and the game ended early.
Chief Gene Paul N. Smith
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
101 Penman Road South
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
904-247-6343
------------
September 1, 2023
All,
The department began its annual media campaign concerning traffic/pedestrian safety for the beginning of the school year. Each day, starting on August 1, we shared information with the public on back-to-school safety, safe walking/biking routes to each of our schools, general student safety, reminders for drivers about school zones, and information on school crossings.
Additionally, the traffic unit conducted intensive education and enforcement in an around school zones for two weeks. During the first week, warnings were predominately given to educate and remind drivers to drive with caution and obey all traffic laws. The second week, officers began issuing citations.
We began Class 49 of the Citizen Police Academy. The class is being hosted by our new civilian crime prevention specialist, Eden Meyer. Eden works in the Records Section and volunteered to participate in a pilot project (crime prevention specialist) to test the viability/effectiveness of this position. The goal is to increase community engagement and decrease the workload on sworn officers. She has been integral in making it a great success so far.
The department completed training this month on the use and application of Narcan to treat opioid overdoses. Narcan has been issued to all current officers, and will continue to be issued in the future.
The Detective Section hit a major milestone this month in the Bridegan homicide. After 18 months of investigation, we made the third arrest in Jared’s case. This case drew intense local and national coverage. We arrested Shanna Gardner, the ex-wife of the victim, for 1st Degree Murder. We have much left to do to prepare the case for trial, but this was a big deal to us and the victim’s family. These arrests gave the victim’s family great comfort and brought immense satisfaction to all of us here. The most sacred duty a law enforcement officer performs is investigating a homicide, because we speak for the victim who no longer has a voice.
Hurricane Idalia forced the city into a state of emergency over two days. The Category 4 storm, although coming from the west coast, could have caused significant damage to our city if it maintained its original track. Fortunately, the storm took a westward turn, and we had almost no affects. An emergency operations center was activated at the police department and was staffed by representatives from all city departments. There were no incidents or damage related to the storm.
Last weekend, our wonderful volunteers helped with the 4th Annual Corporal Andy Lavender Memorial 5k Beach Run. This annual event raises awareness concerning suicide prevention among law enforcement and first responders.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
-----------
May 1, 2023
Greetings All,
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was very successful. The event was held at the police station, and residents dropped off unused and/or old prescriptions. A total of 256 pounds of prescription medications were collected in only four hours!...
Last week, both sworn and civilian members of our department participated in the 2023 Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The one-mile event celebrates and brings attention to Special Olympics and is held at law enforcement agencies throughout the country March to May....
Reminder: April 1 – September 30, no dogs are allowed on the beach from 9 AM to 5 PM.
The second full week of April was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Most people not in law enforcement do not realize that without these dedicated professionals, also known as dispatchers, the whole system would collapse. If you happen to request emergency services in the future, please thank them for their service.
At the City Council workshop this month, the Police Department delivered three presentations in one night. We highlighted our accreditation program and what it takes to be one of only 750 agencies out of 18,000 agencies in the U.S. to hold CALEA accreditation status. We also did a drone flight demonstration in Council chambers to show off the capabilities of this new program. Finally, we did a TASER demonstration, and Council Members Bill Horn and Fernando Meza bravely volunteered to get TASED. It was the highlight of the night, and there are videos that exist, but you will have to conduct your own investigation to get one. 😊
National Volunteer Week was April 16 – 22. Our volunteers mean so much to us, and we are so thankful for each and every one of them. We absolutely could not accomplish our mission and goals without them. On behalf of every member of this agency, WE THANK THE VOLUNTEERS!!!!...
Detective Ikram attended the 2023 Street Cop Training Conference this weekend in Nashville as an exhibitor. Over 500 officers from around the country were in attendance, and Detective Ikram showcased the Jacksonville Beach Police Department as the best agency to work for. Our agency and our badge (shown prominently during the presentation) were singled out by the organizer during opening ceremonies as innovative and amazing for allowing her to travel to the conference to recruit....
The Downtown area was crowded all month when the weather was nice. The annual Springing the Blues Festival drew the largest crowd to the area this year. I am happy to report that despite large crowds all month, we again had no major incidents.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Sergeant Dan Watts created the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer (OLEO) Awards approximately five years ago. After Dan’s death, Mrs. Nelson renamed the awards the Daniel E. Watts OLEO Awards in Dan’s honor. This year, JBPD Senior Corporal Morris G. Ingle was awarded the Lifesaving Award for saving the life of a suicidal person who was threatening to jump from a bridge. JBPD Detective Meho Custo was awarded the Investigative Excellence Award for his work as a DEA Task Force Officer.
We continued our successful efforts in enforcement of criminal street gangs, illegal drugs, and illegal firearms....
We currently have five officer vacancies; however, we have three new out-of-state officer transfers who start work on May 8. We also have two part-time officers who are progressing quickly through training, and they will provide much needed relief when they go into solo status. In May, we have an upcoming retirement that will create another vacancy. We have three dispatch vacancies and one dispatcher progressing well through training. There are no other applicants processing at this time for police officer or dispatcher.
Master Sergeant C. David Young (currently GIU detective sergeant) has submitted his intent to retire in May after 25+ years at this agency. He will be immediately starting his second law enforcement career with the U.S. Navy as an NCIS Special Agent in his hometown of Naples, Italy. We will miss him and wish him the best. Please feel free to reach out to him and wish him well. We will be sharing retirement celebration invitations soon.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
----------
All,
"Through outstanding investigative efforts by Patrol Officer Shane Jarman, Marcela Marabelli was arrested on January 26th in Missoula, Montana, on a felony warrant for Exploitation of the Elderly and Theft from a person over 65. Officer Jarman's relentless efforts in this case uncovered Marabelli defrauded our victim, a disabled 83-year-old male, for approximately $140,000. Protect yourself by planning ahead to safeguard your assets and to ensure your wishes are followed. Talk to an attorney, your financial advisor, or someone at your financial institution about the best options for you...
The 26.2 with Donna will be running through our city on Sunday, February 5th. Even though the route is mainly on 1st and 2nd Street, North all avenues east of 3rd Street, North between Beach Boulevard and 20th Avenue will be limited to vehicular traffic. We will have officers stationed at intersections and will move vehicles across as runner traffic allows ...
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department and Fourth Circuit State Attorney’s Office announced an arrest in the February 2022 murder of Jared Bridegan. On February 16, 2022, Jared Bridegan was driving home from a planned “date night” with his children. On Wednesday nights, Jared would take his then-9-year-old twins to dinner with their 2-year-old half-sister. He had just dropped his twins off at their mother’s home and was driving to his own home on dark area of Sanctuary Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach. Jared came upon a tire blocking his travel route. That tire was purposely placed there to make him stop. After putting on his hazard lights and placing his car in park, he opened his door to presumably move the tire out of the road. It was then that he was gunned down in cold blood. His 2-year-old daughter remained strapped in her car seat in the back. Nothing was stolen from him and this was a planned and targeted ambush and murder. For almost a year we have investigated the case, seeking to answer the many questions surrounding Jared’s murder and most importantly, to answer the question “who killed Jared?” Henry Tenon, was arrested for the following crimes: Conspiracy to Commit Murder; Second-Degree Murder with a Weapon; Accessory After the Fact to a Capital Felony; and Child Abuse. He did not act alone and the case continues...
In January, 42 of our officers attended annual Mobile Field Force training. Mobile Field Force is responsible for providing a rapid, organized response to events requiring specialized techniques to restore civil order and public safety. We continue to train our officers and supervisors to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to be prepared for any incident they may face in today’s ever-changing environment (see Facebook).
We responded with JFRD to a structure fire which was fully involved. There was a fatality in this fire where one resident perished. A General Investigations Detective worked with the state fire marshal to investigate the blaze. We are still waiting on the results of the investigation, but initial findings indicate the fire was accidental (see Facebook).
Our final rotation of officers returned from Sanibel Island after spending their Christmas assisting in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian. Officer Kuusela who deployed with the last group wrote: “There are signs of total devastation throughout the island. You see cars with buckets of sand all over the floor board, dashboard, and rest of the interiors. There were mangled fences and buildings everywhere. In some cases all that remained where a home once stood is a piece of it's foundation or a handle from a water faucet. The devastation was far greater than you could imagine.” It’s been an honor to assist in the relief efforts for Sanibel PD. Our officers have worked with so many wonderful agencies across the state over the prior six weeks (see Facebook).
Senior Communications Officer (dispatcher) Rachael Bennett and Officer Homer Morodomi retired after 20 and 25 years of service respectively. We currently have three vacant officer positions and four vacant communications officer positions. We have a few viable candidates for each position. One police officer washed out of the training program, one resigned in the first phase of training (was having problems performing), and the third position was from the retirement mentioned above. In addition, I have received two formal notifications reference retirements in 2023 with another two possible this year. We continue to perform much better than most agencies, but recruiting qualified applicants continues to be challenging. I am especially concerned about recruiting for Communications Officers, which is a nationwide problem.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343
----------
September 2022
All,
September was busy for us, and we had numerous notable events. At the top of the list was Hurricane Ian. Even though it was to make a west coast landfall, the prediction for our area 72-hours out was up to 20 inches of rain and 60 MPH winds with 70 MPH gusts for up to 24 hours. It was further predicted we would experience serious flooding from both the ocean and the intracoastal. We prepared for the worst case scenario, and thankfully the storm took a track much more favorable to us. We operated a city-wide command post for three days (see attached photo). All officers and dispatchers and a few non-sworn employees worked. We received minor damage with numerous trees and power lines down. I wanted to take this opportunity to mention Beaches Energy and Public Works crews who worked tirelessly for four days to keep the city up and running. I was humbled to witness their efforts.
Officer Thomas Harper was recognized a the winner of the Home Town Hero Award for the entire northeast Florida region. He won for his work here at the Police Department and for his volunteer activities outside of work. As a result, he received a new Hyundai SUV...
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) completed an undercover drug investigation at a residence close to Jacksonville Beach Elementary School. Our SWAT team served the search warrant, and the results are below. What a great job by all those involved!
Ten (10) guns
Crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and methamphetamines
Bullet proof vest
Three (3) arrests with numerous felony charges
We were able to fill several civilian vacancies in September. We are also processing an Animal Control Officer applicant who should come on board in early October. Unfortunately, we have four officer vacancies and only two viable candidates, and they will not be starting until November.
We completed filming our recruiting video last month, and the final copy should be in by November 1. We are excited about the production, and I will send a copy to everyone when it is completed. Below are some still shots from the video to peak your interest.
We received the last of the 12 SUVs ordered this year. They look incredible, and we are planning a photo of all 12 together in the near future.
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343"
----------
May 2022
"All,
It was a busy April. With good weather, we experienced large, but mostly problem-free crowds. Now that it is post-COVID, our calls for service are steadily rising again. We will monitor this rise in activity over the summer to determine if this is a trend. Regarding traffic crashes, we are still at pandemic levels (relatively lower than average) even though there is much more traffic on the roadways. It appears our traffic enforcement efforts are paying off. We will also continue to monitor trends in this area.
The Blues Festival drew a huge crowd, but there were no incidents or problems. Hosting large crowds with minimal problems/arrests is semi-new to our department and very encouraging compared to previous years’ experiences.
Regarding sworn vacancies, we have been fully staffed and were the exception compared to the rest of the country over the last three years. However, with three sworn retirements in the last 30 days and multiple civilian positions open (due to employees taking higher paying jobs), I am beginning to see the situation around the country begin to affect our department. For example, we have a purchasing administrative assistant position which has been vacant for 16 months. We are now receiving very few sworn applicants, and we are in a “fight” with other agencies to recruit the few qualified candidates available. In response, we are innovating with our recruiting methods, and I am being advised by outside sources we have an excellent reputation in the police academies and in law enforcement circles.
Sworn vacancies – Soon to be five with two good candidates to be hired within the quarter (from out of town) taking us down to three vacancies.
Dispatch – Two vacancies that have been open for ten years. We have been blessed to have and maintain eight senior communications officers. There are no applicants, and two of our current Communications Officers will be retiring next year.
Admin assistant – Two vacancies with one applicant in the pipeline.
Records – Two vacancies out of four total employees. We have a few applicants, but they are in the beginning stages of processing.
Animal Control – One vacancy created when an employee recently left for higher pay.
We held our annual Police Memorial Week ceremony on May 4. This one was extremely touching because we honored Sergeant Dan Watts. The event was well attended, and sincerest gratitude to all who attended. This week, the Honor Guard will be traveling to Washington DC to recognize Sergeant Watts and to add his name to the Memorial Wall (pictures forthcoming next month).
After the Opening of the Beaches Parade festivities ended, four suspects from Jacksonville engaged in a gun fight next to the Brix bar. Two suspects sustained leg wounds, and thankfully no innocent bystanders were struck. Two guns were recovered, and one of the two wounded suspects was arrested. We are in the process of obtaining arrest warrants for two more suspects involved in the incident.
Our last homicide has gained national attention, and we are still working active leads.
The Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration held a prescription drug “take back” event in front of the police station. In a few hours, over 60 pounds of prescription pills were voluntarily turned in by citizens!
Due to the recent retirements, we are experiencing many changes in ranks and in specialty positions/assignments. Promotions and backfilling the vacancies left from the promotions facilitates a positive environment for change and movement. Recent positions that were filled or will be filled within the week are as follows:
1 Commander;
2 Sergeants; and
2 Corporals.
Once again, the outpouring of support the police department has received recently is always appreciated and never ever taken for granted.
Respectfully,
Gene Paul N. Smith
Chief of Police
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
904-247-6343"