While Florida sheriffs were making headlines over Amendment 3, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters was making headlines of a different kind — fighting crime.
And today, Jacksonville has some BIG news to celebrate!
According to a breaking report from Fox News, Jacksonville has been selected as one of only four cities in the nation to participate in President Trump’s nearly $300 million Department of Justice Model Cities Initiative.
Nearly 50 applicants competed for the opportunity. Jacksonville made the cut!
The other cities selected were St. Louis, Missouri; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Jackson, Mississippi.
And there’s a reason Jacksonville attracted national attention.
According to the Department of Justice, between 2023 and 2025:
- Murders declined 38%.
- Robberies dropped 25%.
- Aggravated assaults fell 21%.
The DOJ also recognized Jacksonville’s investment in advanced training, technology and investigative capabilities.
The nearly $300 million will be shared among the four cities to strengthen public safety. Individual award amounts have not yet been announced.
Here’s what we at Eye on Jacksonville find especially refreshing.
While other Florida sheriffs were holding press conferences and getting involved in the political fight over Amendment 3, Sheriff Waters’ crime-fighting results were drawing national recognition.
We have long believed that the most important job of law enforcement is protecting our communities, catching criminals and making our neighborhoods safer.
And the men and women of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have been producing measurable results.
There is still work to do. One victim of violent crime is one too many. But when crime is falling and Jacksonville is recognized nationally for its public safety efforts, that deserves attention.
Sheriff Waters and the hardworking men and women of JSO deserve a heartfelt thank-you for their dedication to Jacksonville.
We also believe good work deserves to be recognized just as loudly as bad government deserves to be exposed.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN, JACKSONVILLE!
Give Sheriff T.K. Waters and the JSO team a shout-out in our comments!
Tell us what you appreciate about their work, share a positive experience, or simply say THANK YOU.
We’ll collect your comments and share them with the Sheriff!
Because here at Eye on Jacksonville, we’re not just watching for what’s wrong. We’re keeping our eyes open for what’s going RIGHT, too!
Source: Fox News, October 30, 2026 — Four U.S. Cities Selected for DOJ’s $300 Million Crime Initiative
One Response
Thanks Sheriff Waters…Vote “YES” on Amendment 3. Go EOJ!