Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried formally requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement review the use of deadly force in the Jacksonville officer-involved shooting of Jamee Johnson. Johnson was allegedly shot and killed by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy during a traffic stop on December 14, 2019.
The request was transmitted today in a letter from Commissioner Fried to Commissioner Rick Swearingen of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). As a member of the Florida Cabinet, Commissioner Fried jointly oversees FDLE alongside the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Financial Officer. Legislators including State Rep. Ramon Alexander have also called for state review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The letter reads in part:
“In light of concerns expressed by the family of Jamee Johnson and members of the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, please consider this a formal request for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to conduct a review of the use of deadly force by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on December 14, 2019. … A thorough review by FDLE’s expert Special Agents and Analysts will allay any concerns and bring closure to all the parties involved, the Johnson family, the Sheriff’s Deputies involved, JSO, and the citizens of Florida.”
