JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will get part of a federal pot worth nearly $300 million for fighting crime after the U.S. Justice Department named Jacksonville one of four places in its new Model Cities Initiative.
St. Louis, the Mississippi capital of Jackson and Louisiana’s East Baton Rouge Parish round out the group. Federal officials have not said how much of the total each of the four will receive.
Sheriff T.K. Waters called the selection an honor for the city and proof of the progress made on public safety. The agency said the money will help detectives close cases, widen forensic testing and buy new technology, and will also let it do more to back up partner agencies across Northeast Florida. JSO pointed to drops in violent crime and homicides as part of why it was chosen.
Under the program, federal dollars can pay for sworn and civilian staff tied to enforcement and prosecution, new technology, equipment purchases or leases, added forensic capacity, and services aimed at addiction, mental illness and reoffending.
The Justice Department launched the initiative in June 2026, saying it builds on earlier crime reduction work in Memphis and Washington, D.C. Each city must now finish its public safety plan with federal officials before money flows.
Attorney General Todd Blanche plans to visit all four communities next month to hand out the awards. The sheriff’s office said details on how the money will be spent locally, and on what timeline, will come in the next few weeks.
Section: More Jacksonville FL crime news
Filed under: Jacksonville FL Public Safety News
