Chief Short shakes hands with Sheriff TK Waters during ceremony

New Chief of Duval County School Police sworn in; district’s newest K9 also takes oath of office

Laureen Ricks / June 13, 2024 / Safety

June 13, 2024 – In front of family, friends, and dozens of his law enforcement peers, Jackson Short was sworn in this morning as the district’s new Chief of School Police by Jacksonville Sheriff, T.K. Waters.

“I hope to bring honor to this badge we all share together,” Short shared. “I am humbled and honored to serve in such an impactful role and lead a stellar team of law enforcement professionals who single-mindedly work each day to protect children and ensure our schools are safe.”

Chief Short addresses the crowd during the swearing-in ceremony.

A veteran law enforcement officer, Short’s new role follows a distinguished career with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, 4^th Judicial Circuit, where he held numerous leadership positions including:

Department Director, Investigations and Homeland Security Division
Division Chief, Homeland Security Division
Assistant Division Chief, Special Operation Section
Police Lieutenant, Integrity and Special Investigations

In his role as JSO Director of Investigations and Homeland Security, Short oversaw every major criminal investigation and critical incident in Jacksonville, managing 45 different units and 525 employees.

His time with JSO overlapped with Gregory Burton, the district’s previous Chief of School Police who left the role last year due to personal medical reasons.

“I am fortunate to follow Chief Burton and am excited to continue the good things he started,” said Short. “He is known for his integrity and work ethic, and I want to emulate that.”

Short was not the only law enforcement sworn in today.

K9 Penny listens patiently as Chief Short swears her in.

A German Wirehaired Pointer named Penny also took the oath of office as the district’s newest K9.

Penny, who recently celebrated her 1^st birthday on March 9, specializes in narcotics detection and is one of the few K9’s in the area trained to detect Fentanyl. Earning her drug detection certification in February, Penny has already been requested by other agencies to assist with searching for Fentanyl in their facilities.

When not keeping schools safe from dangerous drugs, Penny enjoys birdwatching and playing with her siblings.

Special thanks to Smart Paws for connecting the district to Penny; the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office for assisting with the selection process; and to the Marion County Sheriff’s office for their training and certification of Penny.

View additional photos of the swearing-in ceremony for Chief Short and K9 Penny.