By all accounts, residents, visitors and employees in Downtown Jacksonville are feeling safer on the streets in the urban core. That’s because everyone plays a role in creating a safe city, and more of you are stepping up and speaking up to promote safety.
We are designating November as Jacksonville Downtown Safety Awareness Month.
The Downtown Marketing Collaborative also released results of a survey showing an increase in public perception that Downtown Jacksonville is safe. It’s important that we all continue to do our part to keep our area safe.
What you can do:
Program (904) 630-0500 into your cell phone to quickly call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) non-emergency line to report incidents. Call it any time you feel unsafe, witness a crime or when you are panhandled (panhandling is illegal). This number is staffed 24/7. Try to make a mental note of what the person was wearing along with any notable features to help JSO identify the individual.
Get social, and help us spread the word during November by posting photos to social media any time you see a safe act occurring. Maybe it’s a police officer walking his beat or a bike patrol officer on the sidewalk. Perhaps it’s a Downtown Ambassador approaching a panhandler. Or maybe it’s a fellow citizen helping out another by reinforcing safe actions.
Post your photos to social media and use the hashtag #DTJAXSAFE. Throughout the month, we’ll randomly pick social-media followers to receive a #DTJax promotional item.
Program (904) 465-7980 into your phone to reach a Downtown Ambassador, especially if you’re a Downtown resident or employee. Call this number during operating hours* for assistance including a safety escort, help reporting nuisance activity or panhandling, or any other safety measure.
Attend a Sheriff’s Advisory Council (ShAdCo) community meeting to discuss safety issues on the third Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. on the conference level of the Main Library.
Facts about safety efforts Downtown:
- The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a strong presence in the Downtown area every day with officers on foot, bike, carts and cruisers.
- Downtown Ambassadors patrol the streets of Jacksonville every day to reinforce safety, assist visitors and communicate directly with JSO.
- There are a number of other neighborhood watch and community organizations involved in improving safety Downtown.
Next week, we’ll post important Safety Tips for you to continue to reinforce the importance of your role in maintaining safe streets.
*Ambassador operating hours are Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m-8:30 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Ambassadors’ hours may vary occasionally due to special events.