Bad things have happened at public meetings elsewhere in the country, and that has Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith rethinking some policies.
Beginning immediately, Smith said, his officers will attend all city meetings such as the community redevelopment agency, planning commission and board of adjustment.
Officers already attend council meetings to provide a security presence, and have done so since 2007. CAPE officers patrolling the downtown area, where city hall is located, often attend, as does Smith himself.
Smith said he has decided to extend the presence of officers to all city meetings out of abundance of caution. He said the cost to do so is minimal, but thinks it is important to public safety.
He noted there are no screeners at city hall and packages are not checked.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot and some meetings are very contentious,” Smith said.
Police also regularly attend council meetings in Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach.
