6 rapes reported to Duval school police in first 6 months of the year

Six rape cases were reported to Duval County School Police in the first six months of 2017, according to new numbers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“We have got to have a conversation about what is going on in society that’s infecting our children,” parent Monique Tookes said.

It’s a tough conversation, Tookes said, “However, it’s a wake-up call.”

Tookes has nine children. Eight attend Duval County Public Schools, so the news of rapes happening in Duval County schools has her on edge.

“No parent wakes up and decides, that they want their child to be a rapist, or sexually assaulting someone,” Tookes said.

The FDLE released a report outlining crimes across Florida, but one category really stands out. At the University of North Florida, four rape cases were reported to the school's police department in the first six months of 2017.

Six cases reported were within Duval County Public Schools.

“I’m very concerned about that, Larry. One is too many,” Scott Shine told Action News Jax reporter Larry Spruill.

Duval County School Board member Scott Shine said the numbers are alarming, but he believes overall Duval County Public Schools are safe.

“We actually have the second largest domestic law enforcement agency in the city of Jacksonville who help make our schools safe, as well as private security in the schools,” Shine said.

Action News Jax did some digging and looked into other cities across the state. In Miami-Dade Schools, eight rape cases have been reported.

In Orlando, three rapes were reported to the University of Central Florida police in the first half of the year.

One rape case was reported to the Florida State University police department.

Cox Media Group