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Stolen JFRD radios used to make fake 'officer down' call; over 20 police respond

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The call turned out to be bogus, but it prompted a very real response. Dozens of emergency crews ended up in downtown Jacksonville after someone reported an officer was down using two stolen Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department radios.

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The fake call that had 24 police officers and firefighters rushing to the Times Union Center on Tuesday night. The majority of them were there for at least 30 minutes. According to the police report, the security officer at the scene said no one had been inside the building and there was no show that night. JFRD said the door to the medical room where the equipment is kept is always supposed to be locked, but two of its radios and chargers were gone.

Action News Jax reached out to the TU to see how it happened and if it is making any changes. They sent us this statement: “This is an ongoing investigation and that is the only comment we have at this time.”

The report said surveillance video was reviewed and several people, including cleaning crews, went in and out of the room, but because of the distance and quality of the video, they can’t identify the people.

Those radios are still missing, but their signals have been disconnected so no other fake calls can be made.

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