Special Events Unit

The Special Events Unit is responsible for the planning and coordination of major planned events requiring a large deployment of officers, ensuring both public safety and resolving difficult traffic pattern problems surrounding the events. This unit interacts and partners not only with other units within the Sheriff's Office, but also with other city, state, and private entities from around the state and country to provide a safe environment and expedient traffic flows for those in attendance.

Along with the Jaguars, Florida/Georgia, and Gator Bowl football games at EverBank Field, this unit coordinates the parades and festivities associated with holidays and remembrances. These include;

• the Martin Luther King Day Parade,
• the Veterans Day Parade,
• the Gator Bowl Parade,
• the Fourth of July festivities including the fireworks display, and
• the Monster Truck Show
   

In 2007, the Blue Angels brought their Air Show to Jacksonville Beach, which was a major event to coordinate among all parties involved, including the military branches, Jacksonville Beach Police Department, Neptune Beach Police Department, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, and The City of Jacksonville Special Events.

The annual Gate River Run brings in attendees from around the globe to our City, and is the flagship of numerous other local races conducted throughout the year. All of these major events combined with numerous street closures, motorcycle rides, and special interest walks during the course of the year are coordinated through the Special Events Unit.

In 2007, the Special Events Unit coordinated the 3rd Annual Light The City Motorcycle Ride and The Jacksonville Police Motorcycle Skills Challenge. More than $50,000 dollars were raised to benefit the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's Police Athletic League, Concerns of Police Survivors and the Fraternal Order of Police Foundation. This event was a coordinated event between the business community such as Brumos Motor Cars and Adamec Harley Davidson with the assistance of Venus Swimwear, the Morocco Shrine and several other community- focused organizations and businesses.

In 2005, the Special Events Unit coordinated Super Bowl XXXIX. This was an event that was five years in planning and was the showcase event of the year for the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.