Jacksonville, FL — WOKV partnered with our Cox Media Group radio and TV stations for a town hall on racism, policing and reform in Jacksonville. Both the Sheriff and State Attorney agreed to a ‘date certain’ policy on the release of body camera footage in police-involved shootings. Jacksonville's Mayor, Sheriff, State Attorney, and leaders from the black community also tackled budget priorities and system racism during an hour-long conversation.
[ WATCH: TIME FOR CHANGE - RACISM, POLICING AND REFORM IN JAX ]
Our panel included Ben Frazier with the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Christina Kittle with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and attorney Leslie Scott Jean-Bart with Terrell Hogan.
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We are starting a conversation to heal our city, with an open discussion about racism, policing and reform in Jacksonville.
[ LISTEN COMMERCIAL FREE TO THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION HERE ]
Local community activists have outlined several reforms they believe will help, including speeding up the release of body-worn camera (BWC) video in officer-involved shootings.
At Jacksonville’s City Council meeting Tuesday, a resolution was introduced that urges Sheriff Mike Williams to work with the State Attorney’s Office and the public to “refine and improve” the policy of releasing body camera video.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson released a three-page statement related to officer involved shootings (OIS) and body-worn camera video. In the memo, the SAO said the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office “has advised that it is legally prevented from releasing BWC footage prior to any administrative hearing of a shooting officer, which occurs after the conclusion of the criminal investigation by the SAO. As a result, moving forward, the SAO will determine the public release of BWC footage in OIS incidents.”
In the memo, the SAO said it is looking at proposed reforms to its body-worn camera release policy, “including determining a date by which certain BWC footage will be made available to the public in all OIS incidents.”
During the town hall, a specific case involving deadly use of force was brought up. The 2016 shooting death of Vernell Bing Jr. The State Attorney's Office has released the following report on its investigation into the case, and the ultimate decision to not charge the officer, Tyler Landreville.