JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An intense debate took place at Jacksonville City Hall Monday over a change that could give elected officials like Jacksonville’s sheriff more power in decisions with lawsuits.
The ordinance proposal stems from a settlement reached between the city and the family of Florida A&M University student Jamee Johnson, who was shot and killed by a Jacksonville Sheriff's officer in 2019.
Johnson’s family and the city reached a $200,000 settlement in November. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters didn’t agree with settling, saying he would have requested the city not settle, but he was not consulted.
The proposal brought by the sheriff with multiple sponsors would not allow a settlement to take place without the sheriff or other “constitutional officer” like the supervisor of elections, approving it. The Duval County Supervisor of Elections spoke at the meeting opposing the legislation.
“This is not a power grab," Waters said. "It never has been. This is about being notified and having a discussion.”
JSO’s chief strategic advisor says JSO took a hit to its reputation since the Johnson case settlement and the work they’ve done building trust with the community has been reversed.
“We’ve heard renewed discourse in the media, public, that Jacksonville Sheriff's Office did wrong," JSO Chief Strategic Advisor Lara Mattina said.
City Councilmember Rahman Johnson argues the change would give too much power to one person.
“Based on what I see, one person could make a decision that could take us to court and cost the city millions of dollars,” Johnson said.
There was some confusion over whether the change would give veto power to the sheriff when it comes to a lawsuit. JSO’s chief strategic advisor says it would not, but Johnson says the legislation appears to be written so that it does give veto power.
Councilmember Ken Amaro, who is a co-sponsor on the proposal, says more work needs to be done on it.
“Until all those things have been answered," Amaro said, "I’m just not sure I’m gonna vote on this.”
More meetings will be taking place. If the ordinance passes it could potentially impact a new federal lawsuit filed against the sheriff last week by the family of Dexter Barry. Barry died in 2022 after being taken into custody and not receiving his heart medication, court records show.