Sheriff T.K. Waters: Daniel Davis reached out after officer shooting, not Donna Deegan
Lydia Nusbaum contributed to this report.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said that Republican city mayoral candidate Daniel Davis called to check in after a police officer was shot.
He added that Democrat candidate Donna Deegan did not.
At a town hall Wednesday, Waters talked about the response he received from community members after one of his officers was shot Tuesday.
“Ashley Moody, the state attorney general, Daniel Davis, no Donna Deegan, but Daniel Davis. He called, you know, and just to make sure – to check on our police officer,” Waters said.
Davis faces Deegan in the May 16 runoff election.
The Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police hosted a Mayoral Town Hall Wednesday. Davis, who was endorsed by the group, attended, while Deegan did not.
“It’s sad that we’re in a state to where we have a mayoral race, where public safety is on the minds of every single voter out there, and we only have one candidate willing to come here and have the tough conversations,” Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police President Randy Reaves said.
Deegan held a #ChangeForGood Town Hall Wednesday evening to discuss “how to build a city that works for all of us.” People could RSVP and ask questions.
She also held a “Let’s GO Young People” social Wednesday evening.
Davis recently launched an ad against Deegan, which shows clips of what appeared to be violent Black Lives Matter protesters.
Throughout the ad of violent protesters, the narrator repeated Deegan saying “I went to every one of those Black Lives Matter protests.” In response to the ad, Deegan called it “very unimaginative,” saying a leader needs to see both sides.
“The contrast between my opponent and me is a stark, clear choice,” Davis said at the town hall.
“I don’t wish evil or ill will on any community. But you can see across this country, the elected officials who have defunded and dismantled their police departments, and they placed activists in charge,” Davis continued.
Waters explained that three officers have been shot so far in 2023.
“These are human beings,” Waters said. “These are people who care about other people sacrificing themselves every single day.”
Waters said it is important to have the “right mayor” to make sure the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has the right funding for jails and the police department.
“I promise you with the wrong mayor, it’s not possible,” Waters said. “And I’m telling you right now, listening to the things that I’ve listened to over the last several months, I know who the right choice is. And that’s going to be the guy sitting to my right.”
The town hall featured Baker County Sheriff Scott Rhoden, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, and Fraternal Order of Police President Randy Reaves.
