ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier presented a Back the Blue award to Kirsten Bridegan and members of the Bridegan Foundation for its Bexley Box initiative on Thursday alongside the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. The Back the Blue campaign recognizes individuals and organizations making extraordinary efforts to build positive relationships between law enforcement and their communities.
For more than two years, the daughter and widow of Jared Bridegan, the man who was ambushed and murdered in Jacksonville Beach in February 2022, have been turning a tragic experience into a beautiful act of kindness aimed at helping children who are in the middle of crime scenes or investigations.
Following Jared’s murder, Kirsten Bridegan started a nonprofit called the Bridegan Foundation to provide “Bexley Boxes” – a kit, named after their 4-year-old daughter, Bexley, that contains essentials and comforting items to calm children in times of crisis or traumatic events.
The Bridegan family has delivered dozens of boxes to police departments in several states.
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Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick opened the event, emphasizing the importance of community support in the wake of tragedy.
“With every tragic incident brings some great things,” he said. “We get a chance in life to be blessed with these beautiful families, and this is one of those.” He acknowledged Kirsten and her daughter Bexley, who were present at the ceremony, along with other families affected by violent crimes.
Uthmeier also spoke at the event, highlighting the significance of the Back the Blue awards.
“We’re here today to celebrate our next award winner for the Back the Blue Awards, and these are awards that the Attorney General’s Office has been giving out to people that have made great sacrifice to help law enforcement.,” he said. Uthmeier expressed his commitment to supporting law enforcement, stating, “If you don’t have public safety, nothing else matters.”
Kirsten Bridegan spoke with emotion after receiving the award, highlighting the positive impact the Bexley Boxes will have on children who end up in stressful and scary situations.
“Three years ago, we lost the man that meant the most to us,” she said, reflecting on the chaos that followed her husband’s tragic death. “But as the sheriff said, the Bexley Boxes and being able to help other kids who might be in a similar situation has really been therapeutic.”
She expressed gratitude for the community’s support, stating, “I just want to thank each and every person who has supported us, who has donated to the boxes, who has donated time, who has prayed for us.”
Kirsten emphasized that the award is not just for her family but for everyone who has helped them on their journey.
“This is a huge honor, but really this isn’t an award just for us. This is for every single person that has helped us on this journey.”
Sheriff Hardwick praised Kirsten’s efforts in creating Bexley Boxes, which provide comfort items for children in distressing situations.
“She found it in herself to put together a really creative idea and to put these boxes together,” Sheriff Hardwick said. “I believe there are 17 states involved, and she’s on box number 66 as we speak today.”
Kirsten Bridegan’s journey from personal tragedy to community support serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and the impact of collective compassion.
If you would like to learn more about the Bexley Box and the Bridegan Foundation, click here.
Bexley was in the back seat of her father’s SUV in February when he was shot several times. She was 2 at the time and luckily wasn’t hurt. Officers rushed her to the police station after the murder.
Mario Fernandez and his estranged wife Shanna Gardner are both charged with murder in Bridegan’s death. They’re accused of hiring Henry Tenon to carry out the murder. Tenon has already pleaded guilty in Bridegan’s killing.