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Chief outlines expanded citywide police community‑engagement program
Summary
Chief Jeff Tabasco told the Fernandina Beach City Commission the department has expanded a downtown outreach function into a citywide community engagement program, now averaging roughly four outreach events per week and a marked increase in social‑media activity; he highlighted a new canine ambassador and an annual report available online.
Chief Jeff Tabasco described a multi‑year effort to make community engagement department‑wide rather than limited to downtown, saying officers and command staff now build outreach into daily planning. "We set a starting goal of 2 community outreaches per week and 1 social media outreach per day. And we are now up to averaging 4, outreaches per week and multiple times a day," Tabasco said, noting the department increased its social‑media presence more than 500%.
Tabasco listed practical steps behind the numbers: vehicle wraps that invite conversation, a new canine ambassador named Hannah used to start dialogues, expanded faith‑leader meetings, outreach to a growing Hispanic community, and a first annual department report posted on the city website with data on calls, training and staffing. Commissioners thanked the chief and had no follow‑up motions; the briefing was informational only.
