JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office correctional officer was arrested Thursday.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said this is the first JSO employee arrested in 2025. In 2024, JSO arrested 14 of its employees.
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JSO correctional officer Christopher Bowens was arrested on charges of false imprisonment and battery.
Waters said his officers were dispatched to Bowens’ residence for a dispute. Police say Bowens grabbed the arm of the woman he was dating during an argument and prevented her from leaving for up to 45 minutes.
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Authorities also noted that she did not suffer any injuries. We asked Waters if he thought additional staff training was needed to prevent incidents like this. Here’s what he had to say:
“What training do you need to know not to touch or hit someone that you shouldn’t? You don’t need any training for that. You need to uphold the oath you take when you come into this office. You need to do the things you’re supposed to do and not violate state law or our policies. If you do that, this is the result,” Waters said.
The victim’s information has not been released. Coming up on FOX30 Action News Jax at 4, we’ll hear from Waters on what more can be done to prevent behavior like this from occurring within JSO.
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