JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayoral candidates in Jacksonville gave their strategies for tackling crime after a violent weekend.
Three shootings happened within hours of each other on Sunday, and a fourth
took place Monday morning.
The violence comes after a recent poll by UNF found nearly half of the 650 registered voters surveyed believed crime was the biggest problem facing the City of Jacksonville.
According to the JSO's open portal data site, there have been 27 criminal homicides between Jan. 1 of 2023 and April 13, which is the last time the portal was updated. For the same time period in 2022, there were 30 criminal homicides.
Both mayoral candidates want to see more officers on the streets, but they have different opinions on how many and how funding should be spent.
Candidate Daniel Davis was unavailable for an interview Monday but said in a statement;
"I’ve spoken to Sheriff Waters about the weekend shootings and reassured him that as mayor, I will work to give him and his officers the resources they need to keep our city safe. We’re going to put 200 new officers on the street and offer the support existing officers and recruits deserve. Our men and women in blue need to know that we have their backs as they put their lives on the line everyday."
Donna Deegan also wants to put more officers on the street but wants to focus on community initiatives as well.
“There’s so many great intervention and prevention programs that if we actually spent some money on, we could keep some of these kids from getting into a life of crime so i think you need the enforcement side you got to put the bad guys in jail and at the same time we got to get to these kids before they get into violent situations," Deegan said.
Homicide unit sergeant Robbie Henson, who was on scene of one of the shootings, says change starts in the home.
"Encourage family and friends to talk to each other and work out problems like adults. Be mindful of what people are thinking and talk it out," Henson said.
Police do have suspect in custody for the incidents on the Northside and Arlington area. Anyone with information on the man found dead on Laura Street is asked to reach out to JSO.