The JSO is headed by the
sheriff, a
Florida constitutional officer elected to a four-year term. By virtue of Jacksonville's consolidated city-county status, the sheriff combines the functions of police chief of Jacksonville and
sheriff of Duval County. He is one of the few popularly elected police chiefs in the country. The sheriff appoints his own senior staff, from
undersheriff to commanders. All sworn members of the JSO are sworn in by the sheriff and are considered under the Florida constitution as his/her deputies. All sworn members of the JSO are
law enforcement officers (LEO) or
correctional officers with all powers allowed by state law to carry firearms and make arrest. JSO also employs
community service officers, who are unsworn personnel that respond to primarily traffic-related incidents not requiring the full police powers of a sworn officer. The Sheriff's Office is divided into five departments, each sub-divided into divisions, sections, units, and squads. Each department is commanded by a director with the rank of director of a department. Each division is commanded by a division chief; each section is headed by a
Commander (formerly Assistant Chief). The departments are organized as follows:
Department of Patrol & Enforcement There are three divisions in this department, and it is headed by the Director of Patrol and Enforcement.
Patrol Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Patrol who oversees the six patrol zones, each headed by a
District Commander. • District 1: Downtown, Springfield, Eastside, San Marco, Riverside • District 2: Arlington, Intercoastal West • District 3: Southside, Mandarin, E-Town • District 4: Avondale, Ortega, Westside, Argyle • District 5: Northwest, New Town, Baldwin • District 6: Northside, San Mateo, Oceanway
Patrol Support Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Patrol Support. • Community Engagement Section - Commander • Crime Prevention, International Affairs, Sheriff's Watch, Blight Abatement, Tele-Serv, Police Athletic League • Specialized Patrol Section - Commander • Aviation, Canine, Mounted, Civil Process, Risk Protection, Offender Tracking, Felony Registration, Police Auxiliary, Traffic Enforcement, DUI Enforcement, Motors Squad
Special Events Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Special Events. • Special Events Section - Commander • Special Events, Secondary Employment, Emergency Preparedness, Honor Guard, Mobile Field Force
Department of Investigations & Homeland Security There are two divisions in this department, and it is headed by the
Director of Investigations & Homeland Security.
Investigation Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Investigation. • Property Crimes Section - Commander • Auto Crimes Unit – The Auto Crimes Unit handles auto theft and auto burglary investigations, many of which result in civil disputes. The unit also investigates thefts of marine craft, all terrain vehicles, motorcycles and aircraft. • Traffic Homicide Unit – The
Traffic Homicide Unit is responsible for investigating traffic fatalities, and hit and run crashes with serious bodily injury. They operate under the supervision of the Auto Crimes Unit commander. • Polygraph Unit – The Polygraph Unit is staffed by polygraphists who administer polygraph examinations to suspects, victims, and witnesses involved in criminal investigations. They also administer polygraph examinations for police and other job applicants as part of their background investigation process. • Economic Crimes – The Economic Crimes Unit investigates forgeries, frauds, including Internet fraud, bank fraud and credit card fraud, along with
identity theft, con games, and other economic crimes. • Crime Scene Unit – The Crime Scene Unit is staffed by evidence technicians. • Latent Print Unit – The Latent Print Unit is staffed by latent print examiners who play a vital role in the investigation, identification, and conviction of criminal offenders. • Photo Lab – The Photo Lab is staffed by police photographers who are responsible for processing, printing and maintaining all crime scene photographs. • Major Case Section - Commander • Homicide Unit – The Homicide Unit handles current cases while one team handles cold case investigations. The "hot" teams investigate cases such as murder, manslaughter, suicide, accidental death (except traffic crashes), in‑custody deaths, any death of a suspicious or undetermined nature or a death in which a doctor will not sign the death certificate as well as any incident (except traffic crashes) resulting in life-threatening injury. The homicide unit also investigates officer involved shooting incidents, no matter how serious the injury, and incidents when an officer has been shot or seriously injured. • Cold Case Unit – The Cold Case Team reviews all requests for an investigation, provided the original detective, or reassigned detective is no longer in the Homicide Unit and there is no other active ongoing investigation. • Missing Persons Unit – The Missing Persons Unit is under the direction of the Homicide Unit commander. • Robbery Unit – Detectives are tasked with the investigation of the crimes of armed robbery, unarmed or "strong-arm" robbery, home-invasion robbery, carjacking, and a relatively new Florida statute covering the crime of "robbery by sudden snatching." Additionally, the Robbery Unit oversees the enforcement of the Jacksonville Business Security Code and the Florida Convenience Business Security Act. • Specialized Investigations Unit – Detectives in the Special Investigations Unit (formerly known as Sex Crimes) are tasked with the investigation of all felony sexual assaults, as well as crimes involving child pornography and lewd and lascivious acts. They also investigate incidents of
child abuse,
child neglect,
domestic violence,
elderly abuse, elderly
neglect and
financial exploitation of the elderly. • Victim Services Coordinator – The Victim Services Coordinators provide assistance to all crime victims, witnesses, survivors, and their significant others. The coordinator also provides short-term crisis intervention and counseling for law enforcement. • Violence Reduction Section - Commander • Community Problem Response Unit – Officers assigned to this unit (commonly referred to as "CPR") conduct proactive street-level investigations in support of other investigative units and in response to crime patterns. • Gang Investigations Unit – The Gang Unit investigates and monitors known criminal street gangs and validated gang members who commit crimes within the city of Jacksonville. • Violent Crimes Unit – Detectives assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit investigate felony level battery crimes, such as shootings (where no death has occurred), drive-by shootings, shootings into occupied dwellings, and other aggravated assaults.
Homeland Security Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Homeland Security. • Special Operations Section - Commander • SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Unit, Dive Team, Intelligence Unit, Crisis Negotiators, Unmanned Aerial Systems, CISM, Critical Infrastructures, Fusion Center • Narcotics/Vice Section - Commander • Major Case & Mid-level Narcotics Units, Pharmaceutical & Designer Drug, Overdose Death Investigations, Clandestine Lab, Street Level Narcotics, Vice Squad, DART, Technical Support, Computer Forensics, Internet Crimes Against Children, Warehouse, Forfeiture Unit
Department of Police Services There are two divisions in this department, and it is headed by the
Director of Police Services.
Support Services Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Support Services. • Information Systems Management Section - Commander • Infrastructure, Support Services, Software Services • Communications Section - Commander • 911 Administration, Communications Center, Communications Technology, Property & Evidence • General Support Section - Commander • Fleet Management, Identification, Public Records Requests, Records, Police Memorial Building Security, Facility Management, Supply & Mail, Copy Center
Budget Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Budget. • Financial Analysis, Grants, Procurement, Trust Funds
Department of Personnel & Professional Standards There are two divisions in this department commanded by the
Director of Personnel & Professional Standards.
Human Resources Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Human Resources. • Critical Incident Stress Management, Sworn Recruitment & Inspections, Peer Support, Member Chaplaincy Services • Personnel Services Section - Executive • Occupational Health & Wellness, I/O Psychology & Civilian Recruitment, Payroll & HR Data Reporting, Sworn Onboarding, Position Management & Civilian Onboarding
Professional Standards Division This division is commanded by the
Chief of Professional Standards. • Internal Audits • Public Accountability Section - Commander • Accreditation, Inspections & Written Directives, Internal Affairs unit, Professional Oversight Unit, Public Relations & Information, Body-Worn Cameras • Training Section - Commander • Field Training, Gun Range, Leadership Development Institute, Training Academy • Strategic Communications Section - Executive
Department of Corrections The Department of Corrections has more than 600 state-certified corrections officers and civilian personnel with three correctional facilities in Duval County. The largest is the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility (PDF), constructed in 1990
Goode Pretrial Detention Facility Duval County had longstanding problems with incarceration overcrowding dating back to the 1950s. To address the problem, the county tried various programs of pretrial release including notice to appear, release on own recognizance, surety bonds, signature bonds, cash bonds, and jail sweeps for mass release. They even renovated an unused juvenile shelter to house the overflow. Sixteen years of research, development and planning culminated in the opening of the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility in 1991. In 1991, it was the nation's fifth-largest jail. Over 1,700 inmates from seven different facilities were transported to the new facility and it served the county well. Over the next thirty years, the number of inmates grew with the city's growth and overcrowding again became a problem. There was no room for expansion downtown. The city began about constructing a new jail elsewhere and possible uses for the Police Memorial Building when the department vacates it. Following the headquarters move to Florida Blue, the Police Memorial Building might be utilized as on-site infirmary for the Goode Pretrial Detention Center. A mental health facility could also be included to support both correctional officers and incarcerated individuals. == Rank structure ==