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Clay deputy seriously injured, faces surgery following crash on Kingsley Avenue

Clay Today
Posted 4/24/19

ORANGE PARK – When the call came over the Clay County Sheriff’s Office radio Monday afternoon that a deputy on motorcycle patrol had been involved in a crash, colleagues throughout the department …

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Clay deputy seriously injured, faces surgery following crash on Kingsley Avenue


Posted

ORANGE PARK – When the call came over the Clay County Sheriff’s Office radio Monday afternoon that a deputy on motorcycle patrol had been involved in a crash, colleagues throughout the department took a collective gasp.

Eight months and one day after Ben Zirbel died of his injuries sustained while riding his motorcycle on patrol, deputy Ron Jankowski, 57, was seriously injured last Monday night when a driver improperly changed lanes on Kingsley Avenue and ran into the rider, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

“He is surviving, but still in serious condition,” CCSO spokesman Chris Padgett said late Tuesday. “Surgery has been set up and he has some pretty extensive injuries.”

Jankowski is a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.

According to FHP, Jankowski was riding westbound near Orange Park Medical Center when a westbound Nissan Rouge driven by Lowell Jackson, 77, of Jacksonville, veered into the side of Jankowski’s bike. The motorcycle fell on its left and slid on the pavement before stopping in the center turn lane.

“We ask for the communities' thoughts and prayers to be with him and his family,” the sheriff's office tweeted late Monday.

Charges are pending.

Sheriff: After-hour calls from schools will be re-routed to new school police department

CLAY COUNTY – Sheriff Darryl Daniels said all after-hour calls for Clay County schools will be forwarded to the new Clay County School District Police Department.

Daniels’ statement read:

“I am writing to acknowledge the creation of the Clay County School District Police Department, and to communication my continuing commitment to the safety of our students and schools.

“To that end, I believe that it is in the best interest of our students and schools to assist the School District Police Department in providing law enforcement services for Clay County School Board (CCSB) property and at school events.

“Given that the School District Police Department has the primary jurisdiction on all CCSB property, I will begin the process of routing calls for service at CCSB properties to the School District Police Department. This will include calls for service, alarm calls, and reports of criminal activity on CCSB property.

“Under the terms of the School Resource Officer and Safety Agreement, School Resource Officers will continue to provide law enforcement services at their assigned schools during regular school hours until September 30, 2019. Calls for service that are received during non-school hours, will be routed to the School District Police Department.

“I know that there will be challenges as the School District Police Department assumes responsibility for policing CCSB property. Please know that the Clay County Sheriff’s Office will always be there to protect the students, teachers and staff at our schools.”

The sheriff’s office has been responsible to providing deputies as many of the county’s schools. But in March, the school board voted to create its own police department.