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.

❗️𝗗𝗨𝗜 𝗘𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗧. 𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗬❗️

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the St. Augustine Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol for Operation Driving Impaired.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝟲 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟴, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝟰 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵.

The goal of this operation is to remove impaired drivers and educate about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and any chemical or controlled substances.

#TeamSJSO is committed to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with traffic crashes related to impaired driving.

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

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of retired St. Johns County Sheriff's Office K9, Maverick.

K9 Maverick, a Belgian Malinois, joined the sheriff's office in 2014 and served our community for nine years. As a valued member of the agency, Maverick assisted his handler, Sgt. John Floyd, in the arrest of hundreds of criminals, by detecting and locating narcotics, and apprehending criminals.

Maverick excelled on patrol, and was a familiar and friendly presence at community events. He loved everyone he met.

K9 Maverick retired in January 2023, and continued to enjoy life with Sgt. Floyd - spending his days on the couch, eating treats, and just being a dog.

Thank you, Maverick. You are missed.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗝𝗦𝗢 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲!

Along our 42 miles of coastline, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Beach Operations unit engages with beachgoers, enforces traffic and beach regulations, protects habitats, responds to water rescues and medical emergencies, and works closely with public safety partners to ensure our beaches are safe.

#TeamSJSO is here for you during the next beach visit. Please drive responsibly, follow all posted rules, and reach out to our deputies for assistance.

𝐒𝐉𝐒𝐎 & 𝐅𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋-𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐙 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

A retail theft operation by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit (PCU), in partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), resulted in numerous arrests and the recovery of thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise in northern St. Johns County.

On August 3, 2026, PCU detectives observed three individuals visit the Burlington and Ross stores on Durbin Pavilion Drive and exit in possession of stolen merchandise.

Carlos Garvin (20), Ivory Monroe (25), and Laroy Cannon (28) were taken into custody and arrested for Retail Theft Over $750 Working in Concert.

At the time of the thefts, Monroe had an active warrant for theft in Jacksonville, and Garvin was on probation for a previous retail theft offense.

Detectives determined the group stole approximately more than $1,400 worth of merchandise between the two stores.

The following day, August 4, 2026, detectives continued the operation at Home Depot on Durbin Pavilion Drive. Loss prevention personnel alerted detectives to a man seen pushing a shopping cart containing merchandise out of the store without paying.

Detectives observed the suspect, Zane Sublett (32), exit the store and approach a parked SUV. Upon noticing law enforcement vehicles, Sublett ran, but was quickly taken into custody.

Sublett stole more than $1,500 in merchandise from the store. He was arrested for Grand Theft and Resisting without Violence.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the SUV, occupied by Sublett’s associates, and arrested the passenger, Daron Johnson (32), for active warrants.

Organized retail theft is more than a loss to an individual business. It can increase costs for consumers, negatively impact local businesses, and could escalate violence.

FDLE’s statewide Retail Theft Initiative operations allow the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office to proactively identify repeat offenders and organized theft groups before their activity spreads further into our community.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office remains dedicated to protecting local businesses, their employees, and all residents.

Good morning, St. Johns County!🌞

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Property Crimes Unit [PCU] detectives arrested and charged MaryJean Small (26) for multiple felony offenses.

From January 2025 to July 2026, Small was employed as an in-home caregiver for an elderly vulnerable adult with impairments. Small assisted the victim with daily living activities, and purchasing groceries and necessities on the victim's behalf. However, PCU detectives determined Small used her position of trust as a caregiver to gain access to the victim's personal identifying information, credit and debit cards, checkbooks, and financial accounts to obtain money and property for her benefit without permission.

Through investigative efforts, detectives utilized financial and business records, surveillance video, statements, ATM withdrawals, debit and credit card purchases, and other online banking activity involving the victim's financial accounts, and located:

→ 63 unauthorized checks payable to the suspect totaling more than $82,000.
→ The victim's debit and credit cards used as payment methods on the suspect's Uber account.
→ Surveillance video of the suspect using the victim's debit card to purchase children's clothing and toys.
→ A banking profile created using the victim's information for unauthorized online transfers.

The investigation identified approximately $180,000+ in unauthorized thefts, fraudulent transactions, and transfers from the victim's financial accounts while Small served as the caregiver.

The victim has never owned a computer, does not use electronic devices, has never conducted online banking, and denied authorizing payments or making checks payable to Small.

Detectives believe Small knowingly and intentionally exploited a vulnerable elderly victim.

Small was arrested and charged with Theft from a Person 65 YOA or Older, Scheme to Defraud, Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards, Exploitation of Elderly, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony, Uttering Forged Bills, Checks, Drafts, or Notes, and Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information.

Today’s families are navigating technology that did not exist a generation ago. Smartphones, social media, e-bikes, and other motorized devices offer many benefits, but they also bring new risks and challenges for children and teens.

The 2026 Surgeon General advisory states that “harmful screen use among children and adolescents has become a public health concern.” It highlights concerns involving development, sleep and physical health, education, mental health, cyberbullying, exploitation, and compulsive use. The advisory notes that while social media can be helpful, the evidence of harm is growing, especially during adolescence.

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is committed to protecting our children. #TeamSJSO is partnering with the St. Johns County School District and Wait Until 8th Chapter Leaders to support Florida House Bill 3.

Florida HB 3 [F.S. §501.1736] is a recent law that creates protections for minors on social-media platforms. The law targets covered platforms using engagement features such as infinite scroll, push notifications, personal interactive metrics, autoplay, and algorithmic recommendations. Under this law:

· Children younger than 14 years of age cannot create a social media account

· Parents can choose whether 14- and 15-year-olds can have a social media account

· Protects the ability of Floridians to remain anonymous online

You can join us in supporting HB 3 locally through Wait Until 8th, a nationwide nonprofit initiative empowering the delay of giving children smartphones until at least the end of 8th grade. The community pledge helps reduce the pressure families may feel to get their child a cellphone, giving children more time to develop maturity, judgment, face-to-face relationships, and healthy digital habits. You do not have to navigate these issues alone. Families may still choose basic call/text phones or watches when communication is needed. If you have any questions or need further guidance, please reach out to your school’s Youth Resource Deputy.

Click the link in our bio to learn more.