ORLANDO, Fla. – Hours after Jacksonville’s 14th police involved shooting this year, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters appeared at a campaign victory rally in Orlando for the Republican candidate for governor, Byron Donalds.
Waters got a shout-out from Donalds during his victory speech.
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“I see Sheriff T.K. Waters from Duval County is right here in front. How you doing, T.K.?” Donalds said.
News4JAX spoke to Waters at the event on Tuesday night and asked him why he decided to attend.
“I needed a couple of days off,” Waters said. This is a good way to take them. My wife and I never get away from home very much so we decided needed since we got an invitation. This would be an opportunity to take a vacation and get back fresh and go back to work."
Waters has made it a point to attend nearly every media briefing involving an officer-involved shooting, but on Tuesday, JSO Chief Michael Paul addressed the media while Waters was out of town.
Waters said he was aware of everything happening with the shooting.
“Tough situation,” he said. “Sounds like the sergeant was in his vehicle. Someone came up got him out of his car. Ended up taking a shot at him. He returned fire and that’s the end of the story. Investigation is continuing.”
Donalds won the Republican nomination after receiving President Donald Trump’s support in the primary. His victory puts him in position to seek the governorship as Florida’s first Black governor.
Sheriff Waters has been selective about commenting on political issues, but he has entered political debates in the past.
In 2024, Waters came out against a ballot initiative that would have legalized the use of marijuana in Florida for those 21 years and older. That amendment failed.
Notably, Donalds shouted out Waters after talking about Amendment 3, which would eliminate homestead property taxes. Donalds said on Tuesday that if the amendment passes, he will not jeopardize funding for police, firefighters, and first responders “because they have our backs and we have theirs.”
The amendment, backed by current Gov. Ron DeSantis, has come under fire by several local law enforcement agencies and the Florida Sheriff’s Association for what it might potentially do to budgets and resources for law enforcement.
Randy Reaves, president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, echoed the concerns of other law enforcement groups, saying the impact here in Jacksonville could be severe.
“Our concerns are that big of a budget cut for us here. We do believe that that could directly affect public safety and the work that our men and women do on a daily basis,” Reaves said.
MORE | Growing concerns over Amendment 3 as more groups speak out against the property tax proposal
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has been a vocal opponent of the proposal.
“(Lawmakers) have no idea what the devastation of Amendment 3 in its current form will be to cities and counties,” he stated. “When you get to some small counties, it’s going to wipe them out. It’s going to be 50% of their taxes.”
Last month, News4JAX asked for the Sheriff’s take on Amendment 3.
The Sheriff’s office responded, saying, “The Sheriff does not comment on pending legislation. That is why we recommend reaching out to the FOP.”
News4JAX asked him again on Tuesday why he chose not to comment on pending legislation.
“I usually stay out of legislation proposals,” Waters said. “That’s something for people that make those rules. Do my best to stay out of that stuff and enforce what they tell me to enforce.”
Waters said being at the event with Donalds did not change his stance on that.
“This is part of me supporting a candidate, which I think I’m allowed to do,” he said.
Waters added that he is not publicly supporting any other candidates besides Donalds.
“He’s a fighter, he believes in law and order, all the economic plans that he has for our state, it’s going to be awesome,” Waters said.