Latest news with #MichelleCook
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
SaferWatch and Clay County Sheriff's Office Launch Crime Tip Rewards Program
New crime prevention initiative offers up to $5,000 for actionable tips submitted through the SaferWatch app or text line that lead to arrests, preventions or the recovery of long-term missing persons. CLAY COUNTY, Fla., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clay County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) and SaferWatch are proud to announce the launch of the SaferWatch Rewards Program, a new public safety initiative designed to encourage community reporting of criminal activity, prevent acts of mass violence and help to find long-term missing persons. The program offers cash rewards for tips that lead to successful law enforcement and public safety outcomes. Through this partnership, SaferWatch has established an initial $50,000 fund for Clay County, Florida, dedicated to rewarding individuals who submit actionable tips through the SaferWatch platform—either via the SaferWatch app, SaferWatch Text Line or a SaferWatch Web Form. Eligible tips may involve criminal investigations, long-term missing persons, or major incidents that result in a confirmed resolution by Clay County Sheriff's Office. "The Clay County Sheriff's Office has been partners with SaferWatch for over 4 years now. We have over 50,000 SaferWatch users in our community and have already seen several success stories come from it. We couldn't be more grateful to help kick off this rewards program," Clay County Sheriff, Michelle Cook said. "If you see something, say something. This is another avenue to help encourage our community to submit valuable information. One tip can make all the difference." Key details of the program include: Rewards of up to $5,000 per case are available for tips submitted through the SaferWatch platform that results in an arrest or advance a long-term investigation. Tips must be original, credible, and submitted by individuals who are not victims or participants in the incident. The Clay County Sheriff's Office determines the reward amounts based on the case and outcome. "This initiative highlights how technology, community engagement and public safety agencies can come together to create a safer world," said Geno Roefaro, CEO of SaferWatch. "We're honored to support and partner with the Clay County Sheriff's Office in launching this impactful program." To submit a tip, simply download the SaferWatch app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or visit About SaferWatchSaferWatch is a leading public safety platform that empowers individuals, schools, businesses, and law enforcement agencies to communicate, respond, and protect more effectively. Through real-time tip reporting, emergency alerts, panic buttons, and advanced integrations with 911 centers and security systems, SaferWatch helps create safer communities across the country. Learn more at About the Clay County Sheriff's OfficeThe Clay County Sheriff's Office is committed to serving and protecting the residents of Clay County, Florida. With a strong focus on community policing, transparency, and innovation, CCSO works to maintain a safe and secure environment through proactive law enforcement and collaborative partnerships. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SaferWatch Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Clay County's Superbowl': City officials prepare for the legacy Clay County Fair
The countdown to the Clay County Fair has begun. City officials and event leaders call this 'Clay County's SuperbowL,' kicking off on April 3rd and running through the 13th. 'I encourage everyone who wants to come to the fair to consider coming during non-peak hours,' said Michelle Cook, Clay County Sheriff. Clay County law enforcement said the eleven days of this fair are the county's busiest days of the year and the attractions at the fair are only growing. The ride company partnered with the Clay County Fair; Deggeller Attractions is adding a total of three new rides in 2025. 'We're also offering a new upgrade to the arm band which is called the 'fast pass.' It is a way for riders who really want to ride all the rides can get in and cut some of the lines,' said Andy Deggeller, CEO of Deggeller Attractions. Related: Clay County Fair announces 2025 concert lineup Sheriff Michelle Cook said during these eleven days, State Road 16 which is a two-lane road, will bring over around 170,000 cars into the fairgrounds. She adds there will be deputies and message boards stationed all the way from Green Cove Springs to Penny Farms to direct traffic, but some drivers can expect delays up to an hour long on some days. Traffic issues at the fairgrounds caused headaches for visitors and law enforcement just last month at the Clay County Strawberry Festival, but fair officials said they're prepared. Related: 'This is unacceptable': Clay County Sheriff comments after less than sweet start to Strawberry Festival 'These roads and this parking lot has a capacity and when it reaches that capacity, there is nothing we can do about it . We will be sending out messages once our parking lot and capacity gets to 50%,' said Sheriff Cook. Sheriff Cook advises everyone to download the 'SaferApp' so potential fairgoers can know about weather conditions and if the fair can take in any more guests. Once the parking lot is full, that means the fair has reached its full capacity. 'Even if we had additional parking, if we had 1,000 spaces somewhere else and eventually got those people here, this footprint would be too full with overcapacity and potentially unsafe.' If you are ready to start buying tickets or need more details about the fair, click here. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clay County deputies will start wearing body cameras in summer
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook is moving forward with an initiative to get her deputies wearing body-worn cameras. The sheriff's office began testing different brands of body cameras in June 2024 and Cook says she's decided to go with Axon as their vendor at a cost of about $1.4 million per year. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The sheriff plans to have 50 deputies wearing body-worn cameras by the summer and an additional 100 deputies in summer 2026, the sheriff's office told Action News Jax on Tuesday. Another 100 deputies will be added in summer 2027. 'The sheriff is committed to transparency and the implementation of body-worn cameras is and has always been a priority for her,' Clay County Sheriff's Office communication manager Ben Ryan said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘This is unacceptable': Clay County Sheriff comments after less than sweet start to Strawberry Festival
The Strawberry Festival is a community favorite each year at the Clay County Fairgrounds, but this year, it wasn't all sweet. Clay County sheriff Michelle Cook took to Facebook Saturday night, calling out the festival and its organizers for security and traffic concerns. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'The strategy was to watch your news about how bad it was yesterday,' day two festival goer Rex Shell told Action News Jax Sunday morning. 'And we decided, it opens at 10, we're getting here at 9:30 today to avoid the chaos.' Sheriff cook in her post to Facebook Saturday said in part, 'although [the festival has] increased the number of off duty deputies, the staffing is still not acceptable,' adding that 'the Strawberry Festival should hire enough staff to support an incident management team and hire enough staff to support a full and comprehensive traffic plan - similar to what the [Clay County] fair does.' Richard Buckler, a promoter with the festival, reassured Action News Jax Sunday their staff has been hard at work to ensure a smooth experience. 'Please don't downgrade them because they do a great job,' Buckler said. 'They come out here on Friday, they make sure everything's prepped for the handicapped, the lines are marked, the cones are in place, they're all ready to rock and roll every single time they come out here.' Now – following a bumpy day one for the 2025 Strawberry Festival, Buckler says organizers will continue to assess and evaluate how to ensure a smooth experience for next year and years to come. 'We're gonna be doing like we did [Sunday] morning - we had a meeting [Sunday] morning with the police,' explained Buckler. 'They simply assess the volume on the road, if the volume can be cleared. If not, if it's being affected by the entry to the festival, they'll simply cease the entry to the festival to clear the roads. We have public safety first in mind.' Sheriff Cook also reassured on social media Saturday the Clay County Sheriff's Office and Clay County Fair organizers have been in constant planning to minimize traffic impacts in April for the county fair. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida strawberry festival traffic congestion prompts alert, Facebook posts from sheriff's office
Clay County Sheriff's Office issued a traffic alert via Facebook shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday, March 2, urging people to expect traffic delays on state Road 16 in Green Cove Springs and fill their gas tanks before attending the Clay County Strawberry Festival. Those not attending the festival were warned to consider alternate routes. Dozens of comments flooded the Clay County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, complaining about hours of traffic while trying to leave the festival Saturday afternoon. The entry gates were closed early due to the traffic and arising safety issues. More "on duty" personnel was assigned for Sunday, March 2, Sheriff Michelle Cook wrote in a Facebook post. However, the sheriff stated that taxpayers should not have to pay for an event hosted by a private vendor. "Let me be very clear ..." Cook wrote in her post,' the Strawberry Festival should hire enough staff to support an Incident Management Team (those that command and support the working personnel) and hire enough staff to support a full and comprehensive traffic plan — similar to what the Fair does — the CCSO will not support this event. We will debrief this event and provide our feedback to the promoter." Cook clarified that the Strawberry Festival is not organized by the same group that puts on the Clay County Fair. Addressing concerns about the county fair specifically, she stated that they have been working with the organizers to reduce traffic wait times and ensure traffic runs as efficiently as possible. The Clay County Fair runs from April 3-13, 2025. The Sheriff's Office page shared some safety reminders Sunday, along with the alert. On Cook's personal page, she encouraged festivalgoers to email feedback on the traffic to the Clay County Strawberry Festival organization's team. Florida Strawberry Festival 2025: 12 things to know from ticket prices to concert lineup The Clay County Strawberry Fest will be hosted at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs. Dates: Saturday, March 1 to Sunday, March 2, 2025 Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Address: Clay County Fairgrounds 2463 FL-16, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 There is plenty to do besides scarfing down strawberries at Clay County Strawberry Fest. Disc Connected K9s will present free frisbee dog shows at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Both days will feature a 'Berry Cute Baby Contest' at 12 p.m., where the winner will receive $25 Berry Bucks to spend at the festival, a Kohl's Cares Stuffed Animal and a certificate coupled with bragging rights. The runner-up will also receive the Kohl's Cares Stuffed Animal and certificate. Other activities include: Monster truck rides Bungee jumping Aze throwing Batting cage Arts and crafts Train rides Bounce houses Pony rides Petting farm Face painting Hula hoop contests and sack races This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Clay County Strawberry Fest traffic in Florida prompts Facebook alerts
