What’s it like to be a woman in law enforcement? What special skills do women bring to investigations? Do we need more female police officers?

In the new episode of Inside JSO, we’re recognizing some of the awesome women in our agency: Director Jennifer Short (Department of Police Services), Detective Bethany Senterfitt (Special Assault Unit), and Officer Allie Ford (Behavioral Crisis Response Unit). Moderated by Angela Gaff of our Recruitment Unit, our panelists are talking about what it’s like to be a woman in our agency and the important work they do every day.

CHAPTERS

0:00- Introduction

0:50- Meet Our Panelists

1:24- What inspired you to pursue a career in law enforcement? What motivates you today?

6:23- How do you balance compassion in your Special Assault investigations?

8:43- What does a day in administration look like?

11:43- What does the Behavioral Crisis Response Unit look like on the ground?

15:23- How do you see women’s perspectives shaping the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office?

24:35- How do you approach de-escalation differently?

26:40- What unique skills do women bring to Special Assault investigations?

33:12- What advice would you give to those who want to grow into leadership positions?

37:00- What support systems do you have in place at home and in our agency?

46:40- What’s your one piece of advice for a woman hesitant to join law enforcement?

54:40- Wrap Up

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Inside JSO is the official podcast of the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office. Too often, stories about law enforcement and our agency are told from the outside looking in. Now, we’re opening the doors and giving you a seat at the table. From major investigations to community engagement, from public safety tips and addressing the concerns you have directly, you’ll hear it all directly from your JSO. We believe in full transparency and accountability because we are YOUR law enforcement agency, and we have nothing to hide.

What actually happens during an internal investigation? Why isn’t it as simple as “firing a bad officer”? And how safe is Jacksonville, really?

In the very first episode of Inside JSO, Sheriff T.K. Waters and members of his team sit down to tackle the questions we know are on your mind.

This podcast is our direct line to you, the people we serve. No issue is off the table, so long as we can legally discuss it. Tell us what topics you want to see in future episodes in the comment below.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

1:00 Recap of Our Town Hall Meetings

3:30 Internal Investigations

5:16 The Difference Between A JSO Investigation and A State Attorney’s Office Investigation

7:16 Why do investigations take so long?

12:05 Arresting JSO Officers

15:50 Firing JSO Officers

24:44 Positives We’re seeing in Jacksonville

28:25 Taking Down Motorcycle Takeovers

32:34 Responsive Leadership and Listening to the Public

36:00 Our Relationship with the Media

42:02 Getting Involved in the Legal System

44:32 Addressing Our Open Investigations (February 2025 Traffic Stop, Jail Death Investigation)

51:53 Conclusion

Inside JSO is the official podcast of the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office. Too often, stories about law enforcement and our agency are told from the outside looking in. Now, we’re opening the doors and giving you a seat at the table. From major investigations to community engagement, from public safety tips and addressing the concerns you have directly, you’ll hear it all directly from your JSO. We believe in full transparency and accountability because we are YOUR law enforcement agency, and we have nothing to hide.