Effigy in a police uniform with a pig mask was taken off an overpass of I-95 in Jacksonville

On June 20th, Jacksonville police in Florida answered a call about alleged suicide. Upon arrival at the scene, a rescue team revealed that instead of a man, a mannequin was under the police uniform.

"The incident that occurred this morning depicting the mock lynching of a mannequin dressed in what appeared to be the uniform of a law enforcement officer is extremely disturbing,” Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams in a statement. “Both the tactics and props used were a deliberate attempt to exasperate an anti-police sentiment and drive a divide in our community.”

 

The president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, Steve Zona condemned the act, aimed at dividing society.

“The hate displayed in [this incident] is not representative of our community. It is representative of someone with a small mind and whose only goal is to cause division. We are thankful for the support we have here in Jacksonville and we will not allow the actions of one person, or a few, to effect our commitment to serve.”