In a segment of The Five on Fox this week, one of the co-hosts, Jessica Tarlov, went on a tirade about Jacksonville’s homicide rate. She said (speaking of Gov. DeSantis), “He’s not talking about the homicide rate in a city like Jacksonville, and what his plan is to fix it. He’s only pointing fingers at what’s going on in — quote — ‘liberal states.’ I hope Donna Deegan can turn things around in Jacksonville, because these Republicans — we look at what they’re doing, as Democrats we say, ‘There are things you need to get your house in order about.” Watch the segment here: The Five

Sheriff Waters recently addressed the concerns about Jacksonville’s perceived reputation as the murder capital of Florida at the Southside Businessman’s Club, the oldest service organization in Jacksonville.

Sheriff Waters shed light on the reality behind the media portrayal. He revealed that while homicide numbers may appear alarming, the city has actually seen a decrease of 17 murders compared to the previous year. Moreover, he emphasized that surveys often encompass the entire county rather than solely focusing on Jacksonville, and other regions, such as Palm Beach, have higher murder rates. Sheriff Waters sought to provide a balanced perspective, assuring us that efforts are being made to address the issue and improve public perception.

Sheriff Waters also spoke about the pressing need for an adequate number of police officers to ensure the safety and security of the city. Considering the size of Jacksonville, he revealed that the department currently falls short, with only 800 officers in comparison to the required 1,000. Recognizing this shortfall, Sheriff Waters had recently met with the incoming mayor to stress the importance of increasing the police force by 80 officers. These additional personnel are crucial to providing adequate coverage and maintaining law and order throughout the city.

Sheriff Waters also shared his vision for reorganizing the deployment of officers based on specific needs and historical data for each area. He plans to rename these areas as “Districts” in order to facilitate better relationships between officers and the communities they serve. By allocating resources based on local requirements, Sheriff Waters aims to strengthen bonds with neighborhoods and businesses, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling crime and enhancing public safety.

Furthermore, Sheriff Waters highlighted the state of the city’s prison facilities, expressing deep concern over their condition. To address this issue, he is proposing a cost-effective solution by repurposing the old convention center into a new and improved jail facility. That’s interesting and Eye will keep an eye open on that idea.

He seems to have big plans and he’s promised to work with Mayor-elect Deegan to keep all of us safe. We wish him well.

One thing we do not need is this…politics in public safety. Talking heads on TV, such as Jessica Tarlov, need to shut the heck up. All she wants to do is divide us for political purposes.

Let’s not let the media do that anymore! They’ve had enough of our ears over the years and it’s time to shut them out!

That’s our opinion. What say you?