JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During the past six days of searching for Lonzie Barton, there have been hundreds of officers and top brass at the Sheriff's Office and on the scene, but the one person who has not been seen is Jacksonville's new Sheriff Mike Williams.
During such a high profile case, a lot of people have been asking why the sheriff hasn't been around, even posting comments to the News4Jax Facebook page asking the same thing.
According to officials with the Sheriff's Office, Williams has been on a vacation that had been planned even before the election.
But Tuesday Undersheriff Pat Ivey said that he's been in constant contact with Williams and even if he were here, we would not really be hearing from him.
Since Barton disappeared it has been Chief Tom Hackney who the media and the public have been hearing from about the investigation.
"In an incident like this, (we hear from) the voice of the appropriate person in the position. That voice is Tom Hackney, who is the chief of investigation. He would be the person conducting the news briefings and keeping the public apprised of everything that is going on," Ivey said. "Part of it is probably a misunderstanding. When we have an incident like this, we go to an incident command system, which is a tried and proven structure on the national level on how you address incidents such as this. It puts key people in particular positions to deal with your objectives and your top priority, which is finding this young boy."
Ivey said the command structure during an all-out search shifts so that instead of the sheriff being on top with the undersheriff and others falling into line, the head of the investigation is on top. In this case, that person is Hackney.
"That's the importance of appointing a good staff, people that can carry on whatever needs to be done at the sheriff's office if he's not here or even the No. 2person is not here," News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said. "It seems like Tom Hackney is doing a good job."
Ivey said Williams has been in contact with him several times each day and he is aware of what is going on.
Ivey said he has also been in contact with the mayor and several City Council members, who are offering full support during this investigation.
The sheriff is expected back in town this weekend and is due back in the office Monday. News4Jax did try calling him, but he has not returned phone calls.