JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan has spoken out, sharing her response to the viral traffic stop involving Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers and 22-year-old Will McNeil Jr.
Deegan said she has received pushback from people who were expecting her to have a stronger reaction to the video that showed McNeil being punched and dragged out of his car by a JSO officer in February.
She said there was no question that the video was disturbing.
“Some people have expressed frustration that I haven’t been more outraged or whatever it is. I am a very pragmatic thinker when it comes to how these things go, and it’s not to diminish whatever happened there. I’m simply saying there has to be an investigative process. I have faith that that process will be carried out, and we’ll see where it goes. But I can’t really say much beyond that because there is a lawsuit that may happen.”
Deegan addressed the incident that has now garnered national attention during an episode of “This Week in Jacksonville.”
"I understand the angst,“ Deegan said. ”I understand the upset. I get all of that. But at the end of the day, let’s wait and see where it all goes. Hopefully, there’s a good resolution."
She emphasized that the mayor and the sheriff are separately elected officials with distinct responsibilities.
“I want people to remember that in our consolidated government, we have an elected mayor, an elected sheriff, and it is my job to run the city,” she said. “It is his job to run the police department.”
Sheriff T.K. Waters released bodycam footage and said the State Attorney’s Office found the officer’s actions did not violate criminal law, but the internal investigation is ongoing.
“He shows the video. He shows the bodycam videos. However you feel about this, I think that the sheriff has come out and tried to be as transparent as he can with the process,” Deegan said. “I think that I would just ask people to be a little patient.
McNeil and his attorneys spoke at a news conference to demand accountability from JSO.
After McNeil’s news conference, JSO released a statement, saying in part that the agency would not be providing any further comment regarding the video.
