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DCPS board to discuss scathing report accusing district of underreporting crimes

Ashley Harding, Anchor, Reporter

Joy Purdy, News4JAX anchor

Published: August 24, 2022 at 9:10 PMUpdated: August 25, 2022 at 8:43 AM

Tags: Duval County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board will meet Thursday to discuss a grand jury’s bombshell report accusing the former district police chief of failing to report thousands of crimes on school campuses.

The report was issued last year, but its findings were unsealed just last week. A spokesperson released a statement this week, which stated that the district has self-reported the errors and corrections have been made.

The district has not indicated what, if any, further actions might be taken.

RELATED: DCPS responds to scathing report saying district underreported crimes | ‘Overt fraud’: Former DCPS police chief didn’t report more than 2,000 crimes, grand jury finds

The board will discuss the report during a workshop, and it gives the board an opportunity to ask questions.

Former Duval County School District Police Chief Micheal Edwards resigned last year, but he is still the center focus of the scathing grand jury report.

The report outlines an institutional system of officers being told not to report crime on campuses and to essentially “un-arrest” students during Edwards’ tenure as department chief.

Of the more than 2,600 “incident” reports, the grand jury said more than 520 should have been labeled as “offenses” and reported to state police.

Those included:

150 instances of battery on a school employee
21 instances of battery of a law enforcement officer
94 instances of child abuse
157 lewd/lascivious acts
23 instances of child pornography
13 instances of aggravated assault
39 instances of burglary
6 instances of robbery
13 instances of bomb threats
4 instances of arson
8 instances of gang-related activity

The report concluded that Edwards should be charged with solicitation of official misconduct and official misconduct, both felonies, and falsifying records, a misdemeanor.

While the report focuses on Edwards, it briefly mentions Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene. It says Greene told the grand jury that she would defer to law enforcement for law enforcement-related decisions. The grand jury report indicated it was concerned about her lack of awareness over the allegations.

The panel said:

Full statement from DCPS:

“As we promised the community when the first grand jury report was released—and as was recommended in the most recent grand jury report—the school district did initiate and conduct a joint review of our current processes for SESIR reporting with state officials. We worked directly with the Florida Department of Education Office of Safe Schools on this review. Because of this collaboration with the state, we are confident that our current procedures are legally sound.
The new grand jury report correctly states that we self-reported to the state when we discovered the errors in our 2018 SESIR reporting data. It should be clear to families and the community that we:
- Self-reported the errors.
- Corrected both the errors and our procedures.
- Requested that the FLDOE Office of Safe Schools review our policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state law. That joint review was conducted earlier this year.
Mr. Edwards resigned in 2021. We will continue to cooperate with the grand jury and other participants in any further, potential judicial action to provide any evidence which may address the claims made against Mr. Edwards in the report.”
Dr. Tracy Pierce, Director of Communications, Duval County Public Schools

David Barksdale, an attorney who is representing Edwards, released the following statement to News4JAX:

“Grand jury proceedings are secret under state law so I don’t know what took place before the grand jury. The Police Operational Procedure Orders for which Mr. Edwards was criticized in fact were public records. In any event, the Grand Jury’s Final Report reports that the Office of Statewide Prosecution will not bring formal charges against Mr. Edwards. This matter is closed.
As I said last week, Mr. Edwards has devoted 36 years of his life to protecting and serving the citizens of Duval County. All who have worked with Mr. Edwards would say that he was conscientious, courageous, hardworking, and willing to give his all to improve the work environment. His resounding goal as a leader has been to ensure that all citizens, faculty members, students, and employees of the Duval County School Police Department were treated the way he would have liked to be treated as a person. He is thankful for all the support he has received during this journey. He is proud of his 36 years of law enforcement service to our community.”

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Ashley Harding

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She anchors News4Jax at 5:30 and 6:30 and covers Jacksonville city hall.

Joy Purdy headshot

Joy Purdy

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