JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officially opened its new headquarters Tuesday, with Sheriff T.K. Waters calling the move a milestone for the agency and its crime-fighting work.
Waters, Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council President Nick Howland took part in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the former Florida Blue building at 532 Riverside Ave.
WATCH: Press play above for a replay of the ceremony
JSO moved its administrative and investigative operations from the Police Memorial Building at 501 E. Bay St., where the agency had been based for decades. Waters said the new building has improved morale and gives employees space to gather.
“The morale for the agency is tremendous since we moved to this place,” Waters said. “I’m super excited about a cafeteria where we can all go sit down and have lunch.”
Deegan said the new headquarters provides centralized operations, updated technology and improved facilities for the growing city. Jacksonville has more than 1 million residents and covers more than 840 square miles, she said.
“We’ve simply outgrown” the former headquarters, Deegan said. “This new state-of-the-art facility beside us delivers centralized and efficient operations, updated technology and many more improvements that will benefit our entire city.”
Waters thanked city leaders for supporting the move, saying it helped JSO avoid building a new facility that could have cost $200 million to $300 million.
Howland said the move builds on JSO’s history and the city’s commitment to public safety. He cited 63 murders recorded in Jacksonville in 2024, which he said was the lowest number in JSO’s recorded history.
The public counter at the new headquarters is open. JSO also opened a Public Services Building at 450 Magnolia St. last month, where residents can access fingerprinting, public records, performer work applications and renewals, and recruitment services. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, excluding federal holidays.
The Magnolia Street building also houses the District 1 substation, which moved from Norwood Avenue earlier this month.
The parking lot at JSO headquarters remains available for the Safer Transaction program, where people can meet to exchange legal merchandise bought or sold through online marketplaces. A prescription drug drop box is available at the site 24 hours a day.
JSO has posted a video showing where to park and enter at the Public Services Building.
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