Jacksonville Awarded $73 Million To Hire Officers And Drive Crime Even Lower
Jacksonville is getting $73 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand law enforcement and push violent crime down further.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the funding Friday under the Model Cities Initiative.
Jacksonville is one of only four cities nationwide selected for the three-year grant.
The money will add 40 new sworn officer positions, expand drone and counter-drone capabilities, strengthen the Real-Time Crime Center, and boost officer training and equipment.
Sheriff T.K. Waters’ department has already seen murders drop 38% from 2023 to 2025. The city is no longer Florida’s murder capital and recorded its lowest overall crime rate in nearly 30 years last year.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier was also involved in the announcement.
The grant is expected to start delivering results early next year.
