JSO overtime report shows highest number of OT hours used in some zones with least amount of crime

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax Investigates a JSO overtime program that was created to fight violent crime in Jacksonville.

Action News Jax first reported in mid-January when Operation Safe and Sound launched, just weeks before the city elections.

An email obtained by Action News Jax referenced “unlimited OT for all” from Jan. 18 to March 18, which was the day before the election.

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However, after our original story aired, JSO said that was a typo and the program actually ended March 30.

As a follow-up investigation, Action News Jax requested the total amount of overtime hours officers worked in each zone and the dollar amount in overtime pay.

Here’s a breakdown of the hours and cost by Zones:

• Zone 1 (Downtown / Springfield / Eastside)—  4,085 hours; $199,409
• Zone 2 (Arlington / Intracoastal West)— 4,162 hours; $202,120
• Zone 3 (Southside / Mandarin / San Marco)— 5,168 hours; $264,843
• Zone 4 (Riverside / Avondale / Ortega / Westside)— 5,511 hours; $274,739
• Zone 5 (Northwest / New Town / Baldwin)— 3,522 hours; $158,989
• Zone 6 (Northside / San Mateo / Oceanway)— 2,503 hours; $133,612

Between Zones 1 and 6, JSO used nearly 25,000 man hours on the street, totaling $1,233,711.

For comparison, during the same time frame in 2018 JSO had 11,563 overtime hours with a cost of $118,275.

Action News Jax mapped out every murder on JSO’s transparency page that included an address from the time frame of the 'Operation Safe and Sound' and found the most happened in Zone 5, where the second-least amount of overtime hours happened.

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Zone 6 saw the least amount of overtime worked with only 2,503 hours.

That’s compared to Zone 3 where officers worked 5,168 hours.

Action News Jax contacted JSO to find out the reason for the disparity in overtime hours officers worked in each zone and if the agency believes the program was successful.

A spokesperson said the office is working on getting us a response.

Cox Media Group