Jacksonville, once known as Florida’s most dangerous city, is seeing a massive drop in violent crime. In 2024, the city recorded just 59 murders—the lowest number in nearly 30 years. That’s a huge shift from 2023, when there were 122 homicides.
Sheriff T.K. Waters isn’t surprised. “We’ve put together a strong team, focused on tackling violent crime head-on,” he said. “The results speak for themselves.”
What’s Behind the Drop?
Waters credits a mix of smarter policing, stronger community ties, and proper funding. Increasing local trust, speeding up response times, and combating crime before it gets out of hand have been top priorities for his department. “We’re preventing crime, not just responding to it,” Waters clarified.
He also stressed that having enough officers on the streets is crucial, especially as Jacksonville continues to grow. “If we don’t invest in law enforcement, we risk falling behind,” he said.
Florida’s Pro-Police Strategy in Action
Jacksonville’s success isn’t an isolated case. Across Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has pushed aggressive support for law enforcement, offering $5,000 bonuses to recruit officers from other states and $1,000 bonuses for those already serving. The idea is simple: attract top talent and make Florida a leader in public safety.
A Different Approach to the ‘Defund the Police’ Debate
Florida has invested more in law enforcement than other U.S. cities, which have reduced their police budgets. The dramatic drop in Jacksonville’s murder rate lends credence to the claim that actual change may be achieved by bolstering police rather than reducing funding.
For the time being, Jacksonville is demonstrating that effective tactics and capable leadership can have an impact.
