St. Mark’s Episcopal Church donates space for a new Stop Station
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Jacksonville has partnered with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) to assist law enforcement in Ortega and surrounding communities of Avondale and Westside.
The church donated space in its Grace House resource center for JSO to use as a field office called a “Stop Station” located adjacent to both the church and the St. Mark’s campus of the Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
“Sheriff [T.K.] Waters and I are very appreciative of St. Mark’s providing space in this facility for our officers,” said Eric Redgate, JSO Assistant Chief, Patrol Division, District 4. “The Stop Station gives our officers a quiet, comfortable office space to take a break in the field so they can return phone calls, write their reports and do other paperwork requirements without having to go back to the substation on Blanding Boulevard.”
Rev. Charlie Holt, Rector of St. Mark’s, said, “It’s a win-win for everyone. Helping the people of this community is a big part of our mission, and we’re glad to do it.”
Local families, especially parents with children enrolled in the school, initiated the Stop Station idea to get a more visible police presence in the community and near the school for the safety of the children and the community.
“We are so pleased to have a JSO Stop Station on the St. Mark’s campus,” Rebecca Sale said. “As a parent and a neighbor, it gives us tremendous peace of mind.”
Fellow parent and neighbor Rebekah Hagan said, “The day in and day out sacrifice of these brave men and women in our community does not go unnoticed.”
