There is scant evidence of police injustice in Jacksonville

Social justice warriors in Jacksonville continue to allege injustice by the police.

Even though no one but the Democrat media pay attention to them, it is best to dispose of the allegation by pointing out that there is virtually no evidence to support the claim.

It doesn’t take much. Even a quick glance at the facts is sufficient.

Facts matter.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office presents the figures annually in a report called Response-to-Resistance Incidents.

For 2019, it showed 837,885 police interactions with citizens, and 36,993 arrests.

Here is the critical point. Had none of those arrested resisted arrest, no one would have been injured or killed.

But 553 chose to resist.

As a result, 11 were shot. Six died.

Thankfully, no officers were killed. But there were 217 incidents involving assaults on law enforcement officers.

To overcome the resistance, officers had to use physical force, impact weapons, chemical spray, tasers and, 2.6% of the time, firearms.

During the year, there were 1,180 complaints against police, jail guards and civilian employees, 972 from civilians and 208 by members of the department.

Of those complaints, 222 were sustained, seven were exonerated, 48 were unfounded and 65 were not sustained.

Only 43 of the complaints alleged the unnecessary use of force. Only two were sustained, the others were either unfounded, exonerated or not sustained.

Sheriff Mike Williams does not condone improper conduct. More than 59 officers have been arrested since Williams took office.

One interesting statistic involves complaints of “bias-based profiling.” There were four in 2019. None were sustained.

It is fairly obvious, except to Trump-haters and radicals, that virtually all cases of “police brutality” are the result of criminals refusing to obey lawful commands. Those that are not are dealt with by the judicial system like any other case.

Lloyd was born in Jacksonville. Graduated from the University of North Florida. He spent nearly 50 years of his life in the newspaper business …beginning as a copy boy and retiring as editorial page editor for Florida Times Union. He has also been published in a number of national newspapers and magazines, as well as Internet sites. Married with children. Military Vet. Retired. Man of few words but the words are researched well, deeply considered and thoughtfully written.

Lloyd Brown

Lloyd was born in Jacksonville. Graduated from the University of North Florida. He spent nearly 50 years of his life in the newspaper business …beginning as a copy boy and retiring as editorial page editor for Florida Times Union. He has also been published in a number of national newspapers and magazines, as well as Internet sites. Married with children. Military Vet. Retired. Man of few words but the words are researched well, deeply considered and thoughtfully written.

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