JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When Jacksonville police recently released bodycam video of a mounted patrol officer using her horse to chase down a suspected drug dealer who tried to run away, the video was only a snippet of what the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is doing to decrease crime downtown.
In recent months, beefed-up patrols to reduce criminal elements and keep people safe are happening as downtown is slowly redeveloped.
“Let’s get ahead of it now before we have more people living here and working here and visiting here. Build that infrastructure and if needed as downtown grows, then make it bigger and better,” said JSO Lt. Nicholas Damone, who heads the JSO bicycle patrol unit.
BODYCAM: Jacksonville police horses help capture fleeing drug suspect in memorable pursuit
JSO patrol officers are using bicycles and horses to increase their visible presence downtown.
News4JAX spoke with residents living in a relatively newer senior-citizen apartment building at the corner of Ashley Street and Newnan Street. They said the increased police presence has become a welcomed sight.
“They’re doing a good job. They’re running them away from the corner,” said Howard Lee.
“I think it makes it a little safer in the neighborhood and we need a little more safety around here because we’re all seniors,” said Patricia Ousley.
Resident Donna Walker told News4JAX that every time the mounted or bicycle patrol gets closer to people suspected of either dealing or using illegal drugs at bus stops, the suspects clear out fast which allows others to safely wait for the bus.
Damone said the bicycle unit now has four squads with up to 10 officers who patrol during the morning and evening shifts. He also said when it comes to cracking down on drug activity that’s out in the open, mounted patrol and bike patrol can catch suspects in the act more easily than officers who are driving patrol cars.
“We can definitely sneak up on them. They don’t hear or see us coming. And if we’re out there for one of those missions, where we’re trying to find drug dealers or other nuisance crimes, it’s much easier to sneak up on them,” Damone said.
That was evident last week when bicycle patrol officers snuck up on a suspected drug dealer on a bicycle at night near the intersection of Market Street and Ashley Street. The suspect led them on a brief chase before officers in patrol cars joined in and helped to arrest the suspect.
Two weeks ago, mounted patrol officers caught a suspected drug dealer in the act of handling illegal narcotics. They chased him and eventually arrested the man after he could no longer keep running from their horses.
Depending on the amount of traffic downtown and the location of a 911 call, the bicycle unit can sometimes get to a specific location much faster than a patrol officer in a car. Additionally, officers conduct bicycle patrols in groups to provide mutual support in case a suspect turns violent.