JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After four police-involved shootings in the first six week of 2009, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford announced he is soliciting support of community organizations to examine the issue and build community confidence in the department.

Increased scrutiny of these shootings began last year, when there were 28 incidents involving suspects shot by officers.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Rutherford said he has been very upfront in discussing shootings by his officers. Each shooting is reviewed by a Response to Resistance board made up of senior officers to determine if the officer followed the rules and by the State Attorney's Office to see if there was any criminal wrongdoing.

Community groups met with the sheriff Tuesday to discuss the shootings and the review the process. Groups including MAD DADS and the NAACP have asked that citizens sit on the board as well, something the sheriff is against.

"Officers have to know that they are going to be treated fairly when their actions are reviewed," Rutherford said. "There is going to be a fact-finding evidence hearing-based process based on law, that they are going to be held accountable, too, not a political process that is open to the whims of the community."

Rutherford said the department's review process will not only remain open to the public, he hopes to conduct the hearings online so everyone can see them.

Mad Dads president, Eddie Staton, said that while the talks with the sheriff were productive, he still believes a citizens' review board should be established.

"I don't want the community to think that is off the table, that we are not talking about citizen review, because that is still diffidently on the table and must be discussed," Staton said.

The department's review of an October 2008 shooting of an unarmed person running from the scene of a possible burglary has yet to occur and Rutherford refused to discuss it. The state attorney on Tuesday ruled the police did nothing wrong in the incident.

"I can't speak to it right now," Rutherford said. "I have not read the reports yet. I will address that later."