Mayor-elect Donna Deegan stands with T.K. Waters to criticize violence against law enforcement

Published May. 25, 2023, 8:11 a.m. ET | Updated May. 25, 2023

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Mayor-elect Donna Deegan, Jacksonville city council members, FBI and law enforcement officials hold press conference to condemn violence against law enforcement in Jacksonville, Fla., May 24, 2023. (Photo/Florida's Voice)
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Mayor-elect Donna Deegan, Jacksonville city council members, FBI and law enforcement officials hold press conference to condemn violence against law enforcement in Jacksonville, Fla., May 24, 2023. (Photo/Florida's Voice)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Jacksonville mayor-elect Donna Deegan stood together to address violence against law enforcement Wednesday.

Deegan won the Jacksonville mayoral race against Republican Daniel Davis May 16. 

Deegan, Waters, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Jacksonville city council members, FBI and law enforcement officials discussed violence against law enforcement during a press conference at the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police.

Waters explained how in recent years, violence against police officers, “simply because they are police officers, has exploded.” He said that recent local events have “highlighted” the national trend of “increased, unprovoked” violence against officers.

The sheriff said that since he took office in November 2022, three Jacksonville officers have been shot and one “brutally beaten.”

“One can only presume that this apathy towards the increased violence against police officers represents a belief that this violence is expected and deserved. Let me say to you, it is not,” Waters said.

Waters explained the reason officials came together Wednesday was to “affirmatively reject this perverse notion.” He asked the public to see the people “behind these uniforms.”

“We reject violence. We reject violence based on hate. We reject apathy surrounding the perpetration of violence against police officers, or any member of our community,” Waters said. “And I promise you that your police officers will continue to fulfill their oath to serve and protect you.”

Deegan said police officers “deserve” respect and to be protected.

The mayor-elect said she believes her and Sheriff Waters will have a “good working relationship” because she said they both believe in educating people to “make sure” there is transparency and accountability between the sheriff’s office and the community.

“I value our wonderful police officers and I value our beautiful community and I believe together we can have the difficult conversations that we need to have to make our entire community safer,” Deegan said.

Waters said it is “often forgotten” that police officers are human beings.

“The police are not a nameless, faceless compilation of mindless combatants,” Waters said.

“We are people, people with families, people with hopes and dreams and fears. People who want to do our work to the best of our ability. And people who, just like you, want to come home at the end of our shift at the end of the night.”

Waters said that transparency “has and will continue to be the primary focus” of the administration.

“I’ve chosen to be a forward facing public servant, not for my own promotion, but rather to give the public with whom I have been charged to serve a more complete understanding of the work  this agency does and why,” Waters said.

Mayor Curry declared May 24 as “Violence Against Law Enforcement Day” in Jacksonville and encouraged citizens to “honor the sacrifices” of local law enforcement in the community.

“It’s essential, it’s essential that we put an end to this unnecessary violence on our police officers,” Curry said.

Share This Post

Latest News

5 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments