The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has shared the outcome of the internal affairs investigation concerning the controversial traffic stop incident on February 19, 2025, involving Officer Donald Bowers and William Anthony McNeil, Jr. It was in August of the previous year when the State Attorney's Office found the officer’s actions lawful, deciding against criminal charges; this release comes after their ruling and following the internal probe into Bowers' conduct, a commitment to transparency promised by Sheriff T.K. Waters.
Although the administrative charge of Unnecessary Force led to Bowers being exonerated, he was not without fault, for the charge of Failure to Conform to Work Standards was sustained, highlighting his failure to report his initial strike against McNeil in the necessary paperwork, which led to his receiving a written reprimand—a penalty that seems less in light of the gravity of the accusation and the tensions that run through such encounters. His law enforcement privileges have been reinstated with the conclusion of the investigation.
For those interested in the detailed account of what transpired and the administrative decisions taken thereafter, the full report from the administrative investigation is publicly accessible. To delve into the documents, simply visit the Published Media Requests page on JSO's Public Records Portal and search "M498365" in the Reference No. section, or click directly through the link provided at JSO’s official website.
