JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Twenty-five new officers officially joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Thursday night, which is helping to fill a much-needed gap.
In December News4JAX learned that JSO was short 77 police officers and 130 corrections officers.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said the sheriff’s office was working to fill recruitment classes, but the news of recent pay raises has helped their efforts.
“We have classes backing up now. The mayor, city of Jacksonville, wonderful job with the raises that they were able to give the officers. They deserve every dollar, and we’re grateful for what she’s done for the agency,” Waters said. “And now recruiting is up, and it’s just a good road ahead.”
JSO had recruiters available for people at the graduation. Lisa Perez, a police officer and recruiter for JSO, said she’s seen a huge increase in applications and pre-screens to fill open positions.
“I can tell you, we’re having 80 to 100 people come out to our pre-screens, where it might have been maybe 30 or 40,” Perez said. “So there’s definitely a lot of interest and an increase in those numbers.”
The pay increases for JSO include police and corrections officers. Starting in October, police officers will receive a 13% pay increase and the starting pay will be $65,000. Corrections officers will get a 15% pay increase and the starting salary will be $60,000.
Waters said pay increases are helping with their recruiting efforts.
“We were grossly underpaid. They weren’t paid what I think they deserve to be paid as a professional agency in a city our size,” Waters said. “The mayor recognized that she did wonderful by the officers and recognizing their service, and now that she’s done that, last I checked, recruiting was up like 88% which is really good.”
Even with an increase in the number of people who are interested in working for JSO, Perez said the need to fill open positions is still great.
“It’s such a large agency that people are constantly retiring and leaving,” Perez said. “So we’re constantly recruiting, and then with the addition in the officers the need is greater.”
News4JAX reached out to JSO to get an updated number of open positions for police and corrections officers. We’re waiting to hear back.