Public Information Officer Ken Jefferson

On June 21, 2007 Public Information Officer Ken Jefferson was awarded the Public Information Officer of the Year award from the Florida Law Enforcement Public Information Officers Association. Ken is the only officer to have won this award for two consecutive years.

Nominees for this award are rated by their contributions to the public image of the agency, and must be adept at both internal and external crisis communications.

Jefferson was nominated by three separate entities: WJXT Channel 4, the Florida Star newspaper, and by Jacksonville City Councilwoman Glorious Johnson.

Jefferson co-host's the Wheel of Justice with morning news anchor Stacy Spanos. The Wheel of Justice is broadcast every Thursday morning during the WJXT Channel 4 news program "The Morning Show." 

He is one of just two full time Public Information Officers in this 2,800+ employee agency, Both Officers are selected by Jacksonville's Sheriff John H. Rutherford. The agency is responsible for law enforcement/public safety for Florida's largest jurisdiction, as Jacksonville and Duval County are consolidated, with 850,000+ residents.

Jefferson also hosts and produces Signal 94, and is a bi-monthly guest on the local TBN affiliate, WJEB Ch59, and on radio station V101.5 fm. He also appears as a weekly guest on FOX30's Jacksonville Most Wanted program.

"Our agency is committed to providing the community with the most accurate, timely information about crimes that have occurred, as well as all our crime prevention efforts," said Sheriff John H. Rutherford. "Ken's commitment to this mission is unwavering. There are many times that he is on call 24 hours a day and I am proud to have him on our excellent PIO team."   

"I am a very blessed man to have been able to win this award for two consecutive years.  When the telephone rings at 3:00a.m., it not only wakes me up but it wakes my wife and child up also, so I want to thank them for being my beacon of support and understanding that this is a part of my calling," says Ken Jefferson about this most recent award.

Recently Ken was interviewed by Jared Halpern from Newstalk 690 WOKV about his recent award and what being a PIO means to him.

Click here to listen to the interview.