Police claim the public schools in Jacksonville are playing with numbers reported to the state on school violence.
The number of times law enforcement has taken action on fights and attacks at Duval County schools has gone down significantly over the past three school years, according to Fox 30.
In addition, the president of the police union is accusing school officials of pressuring Duval County school resource officers not to make arrests.
School Superintendent Diana Greene said the situation might be the result of a “coding error” and promised to look into the matter.
Fox 30 reported these numbers:
2015-16 School Year:
Fights: 4,774
Law enforcement action on fights: 81
Physical attacks: 6,204
Law enforcement action on physical attacks: 55
2016-17 School Year:
Fights: 4,315
Law enforcement action on fights: 9
Physical attacks: 6,117
Law enforcement action on physical attacks: 32
2017-2018 School Year:
Fights: 3,834
Law enforcement action on fights: 2
Physical attacks: 4,486
Law enforcement action on physical attacks: 0
In addition, EyeonJacksonville can reveal that Jacksonville reported the fewest total number of school safety incidents to police in the state in 2016.
Data from the Florida Dept. of Education shows that Duval reported only 7 percent of nearly 13,000 incidents. The statewide average was 35 percent.
DOE also says Duval reported 5,706 fights in 2003, and the number rose to 6,694 the following year. If the number was nearly halved in 15 years despite an increase in the number of students, it would seem either the definition of fighting had changed or the reporting had changed.
Eye has asked the school district to share the superintendent’s explanation when it is forthcoming.
