Action News Jax Investigates: Police response times are increasing by more than five minutes in a local city.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is already helping Crescent City with calls. As Action News Jax told you last week, the Crescent City police chief and another officer unexpectedly resigned.
RELATED: Crescent City turns to Putnam County Sheriff due to officer shortage
On Tuesday, we found out another officer just left the department since now-former Police Chief Angelo Damiano resigned last week.
City Manager Patrick Kennedy said that leaves the city with three officers.
Action News Jax took a closer look at response times for this past week and compared the calls to the week before the Sheriff’s Office stepped in to help.
According to our data, the average response time increased roughly 5.5 minutes, from six minutes to roughly 11.5 minutes.
“Well, that’s concerning,” said resident Lisa Kane DeVitto.
For perspective, we asked the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office for its average response times, which were also around six minutes.
At a public meeting on Tuesday to determine what qualifications would determine the best fit for the new Crescent City police chief, we pressed Kennedy on if taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.
“Yes,” Kennedy said. “It’s a small force, small town. I think, if you took the averages over the year, it might be a better window. I don’t have those numbers, obviously.”
NOW: Crescent City officials meeting for first time since losing police chief & another officer. Before that, a Sgt resigned over the summer. They’ve since asked @PutnamCountySO to help with calls. Deputies & city officer in attendance tonight. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/35ZUhqeZ1f
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) September 11, 2018
Neighbors just want to see improvement.
“Hopefully, now that the Sheriff’s Office is used to covering for us, those response times will be a little higher,” DeVitto said. “I’m hoping.”
On Tuesday, Damiano broke his silence for the first time. He said he resigned after city leaders gave him a memo telling him he needed to do less administrative work and more patrolling.
He said the memo was “demeaning and patronizing.”
“Good governance means that you hire the right people, and you trust what they do and what they say.
Because I was dedicated to serving the people of the town, and they - it seemed like, at every turn, that they were just trying to thwart that,” Damiano said.
Kennedy wouldn’t say why Damiano resigned.
He’ll be presenting an updated advertisement with qualifications for the next chief at a meeting Thursday.
At 11: For the first time, we're hearing from the now-former #CrescentCity police chief about why he resigned unexpectedly. 2 other officers would follow, leaving CCPD w/ 3, total. City leaders reject the idea there's a problem within the department. Story ONLY on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/ilxyapLIKA
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) September 12, 2018
Here’s the hiring ad for the new police chief. City wants a “working chief.” @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/CFEks0erjZ
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) September 11, 2018
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