Comment

Comment by Leanne King on July 12, 2012 at 9:44pm

JL, here is the answer to your question about police services for events, etc. If the cuts that the Sheriff HAS to make come to pass.

"With regard to traffic control during special events in our city; the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will no longer be able to afford to provide traffic officers for which we do not receive compensation for our costs. Like many other large cities in the country we will not be offering traffic control to any event or facility as a convenience to our citizens. This will signify a tremendous shift in the expectations of our citizens, as they may be forced to wait in traffic longer than they previously have, if a sponsoring organization is not able to cover the costs of officers working traffic."

This is a minor issue compared to the other cuts that he will have to make. We put our officers in greater danger and the citizens of Jacksonville as well. The entire Community Service Officer program will be GONE and " the dismantling of our Community Transition Center (minimum security) corrections facility and its programs, such as secure drug treatment.

The Community Service Officer (CSO) program: This program has been a valuable force multiplier and career launching pad for many hard working young people. But, sadly, we will be following suit with other agencies around the country that have also been forced to eliminate such programs. We will realize a $3.3 million dollar savings, but will be facing tremendous challenges in transitioning their duties and responsibilities to sworn officers and other agencies. In particular, working the crashes that occur on our state roadways within the city limit will have to be assumed by the Florida Highway Patrol. I have met with their leadership, and Director Michael Edwards is handling the operational transition and challenges this change will present. The bottom line here is not the $3.3 million dollars saved, but instead the challenges our citizens will face in wait times for FHP officers to respond to crashes that require a police report for insurance purposes or a professional determination of fault. I appreciate the support of the FHP in making this transition. The entire CSO program will be eliminated on August 24^th, with sixty-three CSO’s being laid off.

The Community Transition Center (CTC): Often referred to as “the crown jewel” of our corrections operation, after August 24^th we will no longer be running the nationally recognized 135 bed in-patient drug rehabilitation center known as Matrix House. Many non-violent, drug and alcohol addicted offenders have had their lives and futures changed because of this program, and it is with great sadness we must shut it down. The resulting dollar savings will be $4.4 million dollars for the operation, and we will forego the $1.5 million of funding from the city for the counseling services that have been provided by River Region Human Services. Programs such as home detention will be expanded, and those inmates/clients who currently have to be supervised will be matriculated into the general jail or prison populations; populations that are already burgeoning. The “savings” from the elimination of the CTC will be realized through the reduction in force of 58 corrections officers.  There will be reassignments within our corrections department, as well as the reversions of four corrections lieutenants and 14 corrections sergeants to lower rank. Nine civilian staff members, including program supervisors, will also be laid off. We will be shuttering the facility at 535 Washington Street, and moving the pre-trial services office to the CTC location at 451 Catherine Street. It has better infrastructure, and is a more serviceable facility. This cut will not impact our re-entry program.

Again, any savings realized by the “bottom line” is not easy for me to understand, as I come to terms with the possible increase in the recidivism rate; the impact to the jail population; and our long term ability to deliver corrections services that are restorative and go beyond the mere warehousing of inmates.

We will be permanently eliminating 319 positions in the agency. They are comprised of 74 police officer positions (vacant/will become vacant in FY 2012); 91 corrections positions (58 layoffs/33 vacancies) and 154 civilian positions (72 layoffs/82 vacancies). Yes, many of them are currently vacant, but completely removing them from our personnel cap means any hope we had of hiring more officers; replacing some individuals who retired or resigned; or making up for the loss of the 45 officers and 29 civilian personnel laid off last year will not be possible."

The budget MUST BE REVIEWED BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT GIVING FAVORS OR RECEIVING FAVORS.

I think we should ask the City Council and the Mayor why any company would want to move their business to a city which has cut their Sheriff's office to the bone. And yet they worry that we will not attract business because we do not have a law for the LBGT????????????? REALLY???

I would want to see every penny in the budget, I would want to know about the new positions reporting to the Mayor, I want to know what the ROI is on every position and every department. Many questions and it is time to be all over the budget.

The material in quotes came from a letter that was sent to  JSO department employees

Comment by Patricia M. McBride on July 12, 2012 at 8:41pm

JL, that is coming fairly soon when the mayor submits his budget.  The one thing I didn't like was the human rights council was bumped and now we find we will lose public safety officers.  How does that make sense???  Anyway, the mayor is cutting away and should have something out you can look at soon.

Comment by JL Gawlik on July 12, 2012 at 7:40pm

One thing i am curious about do private venues, such as the sun games, jaguar games, the fair, concerts etc., pay for their own extra police?

I know that in public schools and private schools each had a budget for that purpose.

I personally think that Mayor Brown has greatly added to the cost of his office.

I would like to see a total and a breakdown, even though he is working at 20% (i think that was the reduce rate less than the previous Mayor) we need to go over the WHOLE budget with a fine tooth comb, same with the Public school system, there is still too, much management and much waste in both budgets. Brown is asking for over 6.36% decrease in the Sheriff's budget. WHY?

Is that across the board? HOW much has he  increased the cost of the Mayor's office? I think it has been pretty substantial.

WHO approves the budget?

More DC Progressive Marxist politics?

Duval county should be cutting back on expenses period. 

ALL pensions need to be Lo@K at closely.

I am so fed up with paying for things that i do not approve up like the PEOPLE MOVER. That is a money pit.