JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is being featured in new episodes of the television series “COPS” for the first time in 20 years, reigniting a debate over whether the program promotes transparency or reinforces negative stereotypes.
JSO says its partnership with the show gives the public a closer look at law enforcement and helps build trust with the community. One former police officer, however, say society is already oversaturated with police videos and high-speed chases, and they question whether “COPS: Florida Man” on the Fox Nation streaming service presents a complete picture of modern policing.
One recent video featured by JSO comes from an episode that aired on Aug. 7 and shows officers responding to a situation that quickly escalated in Jacksonville in spring 2025. Police said they were chasing a teenager who had a gun.
JSO posted the video on Facebook and encouraged viewers to watch the department on “COPS.” The post received nearly half a million views in about 24 hours.
“It’s an effort for transparency,” said Vic Micolucci, JSO’s Strategic Communications Executive. “On the other hand, it’s also really good for morale. It’s also really good for retention, keeping our officers and our law enforcement personnel, and it’s incredible for recruitment.”
Micolucci said “COPS” approached the department and that the production came at no cost to taxpayers. He said the show is one part of JSO’s broader effort to connect with the public through television and social media.
Micolucci also said people featured in the program must agree to appear.
“This is done responsibly with guardrails to protect everyone,” he said. “If anyone doesn’t want to be on ‘Cops,’ they don’t have to be on ‘Cops.’ If anyone did not sign a form after that traffic stop or whatever it was, that clip did not make it.”
“COPS” was canceled by Paramount Network in 2020 amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd. Civil rights groups criticized what it said was the show’s history of portraying policing through negative racial stereotypes.
The program later resumed as police body cameras were becoming standard equipment for law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Greg Sanfilippo, a former New York Police Department counterterrorism officer who spent more than 17 years in law enforcement, said television programs such as “COPS” are no longer necessary to show the public how police work.
“With the proliferation of body cameras, social media and cellphone cameras, the public doesn’t need an extra insight into policing,” Sanfilippo said. “We need a filter.”
Sanfilippo said the show does not reflect the principles of community policing.
“It’s unnecessary, and it’s not community policing,” he said. “The department has the ability to record its own community policing and get the word out in other ways.”
He also questioned who controls the final version of the story. Sanfilippo said the production company, rather than JSO, ultimately decides what makes the final cut.
“They’re, in fact, losing the ability to control the narrative because they’re not controlling the editing process,” he said.
Micolucci said JSO does have some control and can tell the show not to use certain footage if there are legal or investigative concerns.
Sanfilippo also questioned whether action-focused episodes attract the type of recruits law enforcement agencies need.
“Are we recruiting the right people from these videos, or recruiting people that understand that policing is a compassionate occupation and not one that is just all about police chases?” he said.
Online, reaction has been mixed.
One commenter wrote, “I’m so proud of JSO. Good work, officers!”
Another commenter wrote, “This case will be thrown out so fast.”
The reality series has also faced criticism for not showing the final legal outcomes of arrests.
Although the face of the teen was shown by “COPS,” JSO did not identify the teenagers shown in the social media video featured in this story. It’s unclear where the case stands for the teen who was arrested.
A department spokesman said the outcome of criminal cases is determined by the State Attorney’s Office.