JSO officer arrested after ‘inappropriate’ contact with woman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A JSO officer was arrested after making “inappropriate” advances toward a woman during a traffic stop, according to Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters.

Officer Reginald McKinney, 46, was arrested for false imprisonment and assault.

McKinney was hired in April 2022. He previously served as a deputy for the Clay County Sheriff's Office for four years. He also previously worked at a funeral home.

Waters said McKinney conducted a traffic stop for a suspended license in the Edgewood area on Sept. 4. He made advances to the driver and told her to follow him down a side street. He told the victim he could take her to jail but wouldn't, a police report said. He later asked for her phone number, police said.

He then made “inappropriate physical contact” with the victim, Waters said. The victim said she was “scared” that McKinney had turned off the camera, the report said.

Waters said McKinney turned off his body-worn camera.

He was arrested Tuesday after the JSO Integrity Unit found probable cause, Waters said. The incident was reported on Sept. 10.

Waters said the arrest was frustrating and undermined the agency's credibility.

“When a member of this agency violates the law, and I've said this many times, I hope our officers listen and that the public listens. We will not tolerate it. We will treat them as they should be treated, we will hold ourselves to a higher standard than our public,” Waters said. “We will arrest them and prosecute them, especially in a case like this.”

This is the 14th arrest of a JSO employee this year.