Congratulations to SJSO Public Safety Telecommunicator, Mia Harrell, on her recognition as Sunshine Dispatcher by Gold Line Support.

We are especially proud of PST Harrell and the professionalism, dedication, and compassion she demonstrates while serving the citizens of St. Johns County.

Public Safety Telecommunicators are the voices behind all calls made to the SJSO Communications Center. They carry tremendous responsibility - by gathering critical information and coordinating resources, showing compassion to people experiencing fear, grief, or crisis, remaining calm, and supporting deputies and first responders in the field. This recognition confirms to our communications personnel that their work is seen, valued, and essential to our mission.

#TeamSJSO is grateful for programs like Sunshine Dispatcher that ensure these dedicated professionals receive the recognition they have earned.

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟏𝟔-𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑-𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐉𝐒𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

This morning, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office announced a positive outcome in a missing persons search that began over the weekend.
Benjamin Adcock (16) was located safe following a nearly 48-hour search by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and partnering law enforcement agencies.

During a joint news conference by SJSO and St. Johns County Fire Rescue around 9 a.m. this morning, Adcock was found safe nearby. A wave of relief swept through as Sheriff Hardwick shared the news and embraced Adcock's mother.

"𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘺, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, '𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥', 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵," 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥.

Adcock, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and mild autism, was reported missing Saturday. In response, SJSO, partner law enforcement agencies, and first responders mobilized all resources including searching on foot, with K9 teams, drones, helicopters, and assistance from a volunteer civilian search group. He was ultimately located by a good Samaritan on Monday who recognized his photo from social media. Adcock is in good health and receiving medical care.

"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘯, 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧'𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 16-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘮, 𝘖𝘭𝘨𝘢," 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥.

This success reflects our community's teamwork and support. 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨!

SJSO is still seeking information about Adcock's whereabouts between the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, and Monday, September 14. Please contact SJSO with any information at 904-824-8304.

This morning, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office participated in the annual Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5k Run & Walk in St. Augustine.

The event honors the heroic life of fallen New York City firefighter, Stephen Siller, who lost his life on September 11, 2001, after putting on his gear and running 3 miles through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers.

In honor, SJSO personnel completed the race in their law enforcement uniforms.

#TeamSJSO is proud to join and support our community in remembering the heroes of 9/11.

This morning, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office stood with our law enforcement and first responder partners during the City of St. Augustine’s Ceremony of Remembrance to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

#TeamSJSO will always remember the civilians who lost their lives and the brave first responders who ran toward danger to help others. We will never forget.

🚌 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗕𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 🚌

One month into the new school year, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office deputies are increasing presence around school buses to support student safety, compliance, and traffic safety. Our goal is to prevent drivers from passing a stopped school bus and reduce other violations.

𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙈𝘽𝙀𝙍: Vehicles are required to stop when approaching a stopped school bus while its red lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 & 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀: Vehicles traveling in both directions MUST stop.

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 [𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝟱𝗳𝘁+/𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻/𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿]: Vehicles behind the bus must stop. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction do not need to stop but should proceed with caution.

Passing a stopped school bus while children are boarding or exiting is 𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙂𝘼𝙇 and can result in a citation, driver improvement course, points on your driver license, and fines.

It is also against the law to have an electronic device while driving in a designated school zone, crossing, or work zone.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
🚗 Slow down in school zones
🚸 Obey signals from school crossing guards
🚌 Drive with caution around school buses

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.

#TeamSJSO will continue enforcing traffic laws and prioritizing safety.

Congratulations to Commander George Harrigan on his graduation from the 2026 Florida Sheriffs Association [FSA] Commanders Academy Class 19.

The Commanders Academy is a premiere two-week course for leaders in public safety - emphasizing leadership development, ethical decision-making, and professional discipline. The graduating class included personnel representing 41 sheriffs' offices across Florida.

Congratulations Commander Harrigan and class 19!

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of retired SJSO K9, Star.

Corporal Nick Cooper and K9 Star became a team in 2017 when Star was only eight weeks old.

The team certified with the National Police Bloodhound Association, and together, devoted themselves to catching criminals, locating missing persons, and bringing hope for the families of missing children, adults with mental disorders, cognitive decline and suicidal thoughts. The two participated in nearly 200 deployments that included successfully locating people on crowded streets or hiding under the cover of darkness.

In 2019, Corporal Cooper and K9 Star were requested to assist the St. Augustine Police Department after two men committed an armed robbery and fled the area. K9 Star tracked through the streets until the team eventually ended up at an apartment complex. K9 Star led deputies to an apartment door and pawed it, indicating that the suspects were inside. Of course, the team was correct, and the two suspects were found hiding inside.

In 2024, Corporal Cooper and K9 Star responded to a complaint of a missing autistic child. Time is crucial when attempting to locate a missing child with autism. Corporal Cooper was extremely aware of this, and within seven minutes, he and K9 Star located the child, safe, sitting in the middle of the woods.

After seven years of service, K9 Star earned a well-deserved retirement in 2025, which she spent relaxing with her family.

Thank you to Corporal Cooper and K9 Star for your hard work.

K9 Star, you are missed.

On this Labor Day weekend, #TeamSJSO and partnering law enforcement agencies are increasing DUI enforcement to keep our community safe.

🚨 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘!
🚨 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔 𝗦𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥.
🚨 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗜 𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘.

Help everyone get home safely. Enjoy the holiday responsibly.

@staugpd
@staugbeachpd
@myfwc
@fhp_jacksonville

🦌 𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗞-𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 🦌

On August 23, 2026, SJSO deputies responded to a home and found a large buck in the bathroom... a true deer-in-the-headlights moment. Using only their wits and a pool brush, deputies helped the buck safely escape back into the woods. The buck fled before deputies could issue a warning for trespassing. #teamsjso

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is complying with the Florida Department of Transportation Engineering and Operations Memorandum requiring the removal of license plate reader [LPR] technology within the right of way of a road on the State Highway System in St. Johns County.

“The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office remains confident in the effectiveness and overwhelming success of license plate reader technology. In addition, I am humbled by the trust the community has shown for our agency’s use of this valuable tool. As your Sheriff, it is my responsibility to protect you, the citizens and visitors of St. Johns County. As technology evolves, we will continue to pursue the best balance between public safety and personal privacy,” Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick said.

SJSO supports the development of legislation which addresses concerns surrounding LPR technology and establishes clear standards for its use. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Florida Sheriffs Association, as well as our state legislators and local stakeholders in shaping effective policy.

The FDOT memorandum is attached for reference.