GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Sheriff Michelle Cook’s first 60 days in office have brought change and improvements as she continues to work to build on the solid platform that already existed at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Since her election victory on Aug. 18h and after she took office on September 1st, Sheriff Cook has been committed to moving the CCSO forward. In the last two months, she’s renewed the agency’s commitment to keeping the community safe, in addition to building a positive relationship between law enforcement and the residents of Clay County.

One of the first tasks Cook took on when she took office was to review and rework a $65 million budget. She also met with many of the agency’s 650 members.

Cook assembled a transition team made up of the agency’s directors, and they brought in subject matter experts from across the state to review day-to-day agency operations to offer suggestions on where the agency can improve.

Those law enforcement officials spent more than 300 hours, and Cook and the executive transition team met with each of them.

The executive transition team added aspects like a part-time deputy program and a robust volunteer program. Together with the public safety partners, they conducted a zone restructure review to increase efficiency and response times, and agency leaders are researching different safety equipment for our deputies.

Cook is working with county officials to improve the jail facility, which needs modifications and improvements. Detention chiefs and director also initiated the steps to create an inmate road crew to work on county roads.

The CCSO Information Technologies Section obtained an application to electronically transmit arrest warrants to the courts. This application is currently in the final testing phase and will greatly reduce the time required for deputies to obtain warrants for wanted criminals. It’s also utilizing the agency’s programmers to begin sharing information with the Clerk of Courts to include booking information and traffic citations. Automating the information sharing greatly enhances the flow of information and reduces the possibility of human error.

In September, Cook mourned the loss of Sergeant Eric Twisdale, who passed away from COVID-19. The agency was touched by the outpouring of support it saw from not just the community, but from across the area.

Also in September, Cook and detention chiefs and director worked closely with local health officials to navigate through a COVID-19 outbreak in the jail, and they held a news conference to update our community. They reported 156 inmates and eight employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

The outbreak now is under control.

One of Cook’s first news conferences as sheriff came after an investigation into a 13-year-old who planned to bring a gun to Lake Asbury Junior High and use it.

Even though the agency is going through a transition period, service to the community hasn’t stopped. It continues to hold virtual training, hire new members and work investigations. During the last 60 days members got multiple drugs off of the streets that included fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Detectives have made multiple arrests relating to narcotics with charges that include armed trafficking in MDMA and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Since Cook was appointed on Sept. 1 by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to complete Darryl Daniels’ term, the CCSO Narcotics Unit has opened 37 additional drug-related investigations. That unit is working more than 100 cases.

Two weeks ago, the Drug Enforcement Agency and CCSO announced it broke up a methamphetamine ring with ties to the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. Twenty pounds of methamphetamine was recovered and two men were sentenced to federal prison.

During the course of the first two months, Cook and the agency’s directors have met with lieutenants, chiefs and civilian managers to get their input on what can be changed, what’s working and where we can improve.

Cook’s idea behind this transition is to build on the solid platform that already exists at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office so it can provide the best service.

Cook said, “I’m thankful for the overwhelming support I’ve received from the members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Clay County.”

Cook officially will start her term as the sheriff on Jan. 5 when she’s sworn in with other recently-elected county constitutionals.