Florida Sheriff’s Office Needs More Deputies to Protect and Patrol

Florida Sheriff’s Office Needs More Deputies to Protect and Patrol

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in Fla., needs to add at least 40 more deputies to keep up with calls for service, according to the sheriff.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in St. Augustine, Fla., needs to add at least 40 more deputies to keep up with calls for service, according to the sheriff.

The population of St. Johns County has increased by more than 28 percent since 2010—an additional 50,000 residents—but the sheriff’s department staff has only increased by about 15 percent in the same period. Almost one-third of the additional sheriff’s office staff are assigned to school campuses under new state requirements in the wake of the Parkland school shooting.

There are currently 324 deputies with the Sheriff’s Office, and according to the sheriff, they could use 40 more deputies. According to News 4 Jax, that number may not be requested in the next budget year. The sheriff is meeting with department heads and the school district and will make his budget proposal this summer.

According to Spokesman Chuck Mulligan, having fewer deputies means the Sheriff’s Office may focus less on things like traffic stops in order to prioritize more critical issues.

"You may have nine or 10 personnel at one call, depending on how significant the call is, while other calls are simply an alarm call—a false alarm, for example. One deputy goes. Five minutes later, that call is resolved and we’re off to another call," Mulligan said.

The Sheriff’s Office lost employees during the recession a decade ago. Fifteen deputies were added in both 2016 and 2017 as the first additions since the recession, and 16 more were hired last year but assigned to school resource officer duties.

"We knew that budget cuts would be coming so we, on our own, began attrition (of) our workforce," Mulligan said.

News4Jax reported that most St. Johns County residents said they feel safe but know that population growth means more opportunities for crime. Residents hope to see more deputies patrolling their neighborhoods.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.