As the school year resumes following the winter break, Duval County School Police are emphasizing the importance of road safety near educational institutions. In a recent conversation with WOKV News, Police Chief Jackson Short urged the community to exercise due caution. "Today, Chief Jackson Short spoke with WOKV News to remind our community how critical it is for drivers to slow down, stay alert, and follow the law in school zones—especially as students and staff return after winter break,” the social media post from the Duval County School Police stated.
Reinforcing this need, the Duval County School Police force has increased its presence in school zones as part of a concerted effort to safeguard returning students and staff. "Our Officers are out in full force, but keeping our children safe is a shared responsibility,” the department's post goes on to say. They have also made an appeal to the public, emphasizing that protecting children is not solely the responsibility of the police and that everyone can help to consciously create a safer environment for all.
With many children and young adults once again filling the sidewalks and crosswalks near schools, the risk of traffic-related incidents tends to increase. The reminder from Chief Jackson Short and his officers aims to avoid such incidents by keeping safety at the forefront of everyone's mind during the daily commutes.
Keeping with the message of shared responsibility, Duval County School Police encourage drivers to actively partake in this initiative by staying alert, especially in the proximity of school zones, and by adhering to traffic laws designed to protect young students.
