Ashley Weaver made history Thursday after being sworn in as Jacksonville’s first female interim police chief.
Weaver, who has spent nearly three decades with the Jacksonville Police Department, took the oath of office during a ceremony Thursday morning.
City officials said Weaver is also the first person from within the department to serve as police chief in an interim capacity.
Weaver said the milestone reflects the department’s commitment to developing leaders from within its own ranks.
“It has nothing to do with being female or male… gender has nothing to do with being able to do this job,” Weaver said. “It’s all about having the knowledge, the competence and the physical ability to get the job done.”
As interim chief, Weaver said one of her priorities will be continuing to focus on mental health, both for the community and for the officers she leads.
“Mental health is a really huge thing, not just for the community but for our officers,” Weaver said. “They see people’s worst days every day of their life.”
Weaver also told News 12 she plans to apply for the position permanently when the city begins its search for a new police chief.