Responding to a Mental Health Crisis

When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, the right response can make all the difference.On this episode of Inside JSO, go behind the scenes of our Behavioral Crisis Response Unit. This unit pairs our specially trained officers with civilian licensed mental health professionals who ride together as “co-responders” to mental health calls.The officer provides safety for the counselor to go in and bring comfort and resources during what may be someone’s darkest moment. We believe mental health care and access to resources are crucial, and our Behavioral Crisis Response Unit helps bring that directly to the people who need them most.

Creating the change we want to see. That’s the mission of our Outreach and Support team. Led by Pastor Garland Scott, a former gang member turned giant in our city’s violence reduction strategy, our Outreach and Support team is dedicated to stopping violence before it happens. One of the ways they do that is through our custom notifications: personalized visits to at-risk individuals and provide them with the opportunity to leave behind gang life.  We also partner with faith organizations to provide those actively in gang or group life a way out.  

It’s body-worn camera video that reached millions of people across the world: District 2 and District 6 Patrol officers working together to save a man ready to take his own life on the Dames Point Bridge. We’re proud to report that the young man is doing well today.In this episode of Inside JSO, we’re sitting down with three officers who played a pivotal role in saving the young man’s life: Officer Antonio Richardson, Officer Joseph Neighbor, and Officer Brandon Creighton. Our officers share their perspectives on the incident, their thoughts when the video went viral, and their messages to anyone else who is struggling.CHAPTERS0:00 Introduction1:45 Reactions to the Video Going Viral5:18 How did the two districts work together?7:07 The Intensity of the Moment14:19 The Relief When the Man Took the Officer’s Hand24:24 How is the young man doing now?29:00 Inner Agency Reactions30:53 A Message of Hope36:20 Conclusion

If an officer or employee isn’t feeling their best, they can’t provide the best service to our community. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing our employees the best physical, mental, and spiritual care available.For our employees who want it, one of our resources is our Chaplaincy Unit, a team redesigned by Sheriff T.K. Waters. This two-person team, Pastor Cory McDonald and Chaplain Greg Farah, offer spiritual counseling and support to every employee who needs it. They ride with our officers, pray with our recruit classes, and offer a range of other services. They also work with partners throughout the community to support a variety of faiths and beliefs. In this episode of Inside JSO, we’re sitting down with Sheriff Waters and our agency chaplains to talk more about the importance of our Chaplaincy Unit. You can find the full episode on our YouTube channel or on your favorite podcast platform. CHAPTERS0:00 Introduction1:00 The Importance of the Chaplaincy Unit2:43 Transitioning from Officer to Chaplain7:41 Why does this type of service matter?10:55 What is the progression of this unit in our agency?12:23 Chaplaincy Unit Success Stories19:15 How important is faith as a law enforcement officer?25:20 What’s the message to our employees?28:35 Conclusion

There is a lot of talk about ‘teen takeovers’ and the need for positive outlets for our next generation. Here’s just one example of a positive outlet. In our new episode of Inside JSO, we’re giving you a never-before-seen look into our Police Explorers program. Our explorers learn and train like police officers, and they get to build positive relationships with their peers and our officers. It’s a completely FREE program available to students as young at 14 years old. If they’re willing to put in the hard work, we want them to join us.Sign your child up for the Explorers program on our website. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction3:36 What does the JSO Explorer program mean? How does it give our students a positive outlet?6:03 What are our Explorers learning in the program?9:49 What do parents need to know about the Explorers program?11:38 Does this program play a role in cutting down crime?13:16 What exactly do Explorers get to do?14:27 Do teens have to want to be police offices to become Explorers?15:28 What awards have the JSO Explorer program won?23:31 Conclusion

How do scammers have access to my information? How can I better equip myself to deal with a scammer? What are the types of scams I should be looking out for? Will the police actually call me for missing jury duty?In the first episode of Inside JSO of the year, we’re putting the spotlight on scams. There are thousands of scams, and it seems we see a new type of scam pop up every day. That’s why we invited experts from our agency alongside the Secret Service, the US Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI to share what kinds of cases they’re seeing and an inside look at how these cases are investigated.Moderated by Ashley Harding from our Strategic Communications team, our experts are answering the big question on your mind: How can I protect my family? CHAPTERS0:00- Introduction0:38- Meet Our Panelists1:29- How do our agencies work together to fight against scams?2:22- What are the types of scams we’re seeing more frequently?3:04- Do scams cross international borders?4:01- How do people get their funds back?5:49- How does AI impact scams?10:50- What is a money mule?15:10- What are some warning signs you may be part of a money mule scam?16:33- How can you protect your information from falling into scammers’ hands?20:13- How can you protect your public social media accounts?24:00- Is it true victims can be charged with a crime in a scam?26:28- Who’s actually falling victims to scams?30:36- What should you know about sextortion scams?33:28- What resources exist to protect yourself from scams?36:58- What can you do to help protect your loved ones?48:54- Wrap Up

What’s it like to be a woman in law enforcement? What special skills do women bring to investigations? Do we need more female police officers?In the new episode of Inside JSO, we’re recognizing some of the awesome women in our agency: Director Jennifer Short (Department of Police Services), Detective Bethany Senterfitt (Special Assault Unit), and Officer Allie Ford (Behavioral Crisis Response Unit). Moderated by Angela Gaff of our Recruitment Unit, our panelists are talking about what it’s like to be a woman in our agency and the important work they do every day.CHAPTERS0:00- Introduction0:50- Meet Our Panelists1:24- What inspired you to pursue a career in law enforcement? What motivates you today?6:23- How do you balance compassion in your Special Assault investigations?8:43- What does a day in administration look like?11:43- What does the Behavioral Crisis Response Unit look like on the ground?15:23- How do you see women’s perspectives shaping the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office?24:35- How do you approach de-escalation differently?26:40- What unique skills do women bring to Special Assault investigations?33:12- What advice would you give to those who want to grow into leadership positions?37:00- What support systems do you have in place at home and in our agency?46:40- What’s your one piece of advice for a woman hesitant to join law enforcement?54:40- Wrap Up------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Inside JSO is the official podcast of the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office. Too often, stories about law enforcement and our agency are told from the outside looking in. Now, we’re opening the doors and giving you a seat at the table. From major investigations to community engagement, from public safety tips and addressing the concerns you have directly, you’ll hear it all directly from your JSO. We believe in full transparency and accountability because we are YOUR law enforcement agency, and we have nothing to hide.

What actually happens during an internal investigation? Why isn’t it as simple as “firing a bad officer”? And how safe is Jacksonville, really?In the very first episode of Inside JSO, Sheriff T.K. Waters and members of his team sit down to tackle the questions we know are on your mind.This podcast is our direct line to you, the people we serve. No issue is off the table, so long as we can legally discuss it. Tell us what topics you want to see in future episodes in the comment below.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction1:00 Recap of Our Town Hall Meetings3:30 Internal Investigations5:16 The Difference Between A JSO Investigation and A State Attorney’s Office Investigation7:16 Why do investigations take so long?12:05 Arresting JSO Officers15:50 Firing JSO Officers24:44 Positives We’re seeing in Jacksonville28:25 Taking Down Motorcycle Takeovers32:34 Responsive Leadership and Listening to the Public36:00 Our Relationship with the Media42:02 Getting Involved in the Legal System44:32 Addressing Our Open Investigations (February 2025 Traffic Stop, Jail Death Investigation)51:53 ConclusionInside JSO is the official podcast of the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office. Too often, stories about law enforcement and our agency are told from the outside looking in. Now, we’re opening the doors and giving you a seat at the table. From major investigations to community engagement, from public safety tips and addressing the concerns you have directly, you’ll hear it all directly from your JSO. We believe in full transparency and accountability because we are YOUR law enforcement agency, and we have nothing to hide.