The City of Green Cove Springs is located in southeastern Clay County, on the beautiful St. John's River, and proudly serves as the county seat. Located just 30 minutes south of the City of Jacksonville, or 30 minutes west of the City of St. Augustine, the city's fulltime population is approximately 6,900 and growing with several new residential communities presently under construction. During the workweek, the city's population swells to over 13,000, due to State Road 16 and Highway 17 running directly through the city and the influx of county workers and visitors. The city currently covers 9.01 square miles of land and waterways, with a utilities service area of approximately 28.2 square miles.



High ground along the St. Johns River and a flowing mineral spring drew the first inhabitants to this area some 7,000 years ago, but historic development dates from 1816 when George I. F. Clarke erected a sawmill in this vicinity under a Spanish Land Grant. The first settlement, called White Sulfur Springs, was established in 1854, with a wharf, a store, and several houses clustered around a Public Square. During the Civil War, Federal Troops frequently skirmished with Confederate Forces in the vicinity, and finally occupied the town in 1864.

Renamed in 1866, Green Cove Springs became the seat of Clay County Government in 1871. River steamers brought visitors to the "Saratoga of the South", noted for the healthful qualities of its famous spring and for hotels and boarding houses said to rival the finest to be found in northern resorts, but in the early 1900's the City's tourist industry declined sharply. The advent of the automobile age and the creation of state highway system provided the basis for economic recovery in the 1920's, when the City shared in the general prosperity of the Florida Land Boom. With the collapse of the Land Boom and the Depression of the 1930's marked the end of the early development of the City. In the early 1940's the population increased from 1,752 to 3,026 as a result of the wartime construction of Benjamin Lee Field, a 1,500-acre air-auxiliary complex, built by the U.S Navy. With the end of World War II, the Navy constructed thirteen piers and the Green Cove Base became homeport to a mothballed fleet of some 600 war ships.



In 1961, the Navy decommissioned its base, and in 1984, the City annexed the former Naval Base into its city limits.



Today, Green Cove Springs is at the center of the southern Clay County building boom. Future plans for the area include a southern beltway into St. John's County and a full service hospital. The city is also making way for much of its water front property to be converted for use by high-end townhouses and condominiums. With recent talks of annexation of surrounding areas, Green Cove Springs is on the verge of great things to come.



The department is currently comprised of 21 full time officers, 10 part time officers, 5 full time civilian dispatchers, a full time civilian secretary and school crossing guards. The department has a Criminal Investigations Unit, a full time Code Enforcement officer and a Traffic Unit. The department was the first in the county to establish a full time "Street Crimes Unit" and participates in the countywide Drug Task Force, SWAT Team and has a fulltime officer assigned to the DEA Task Force. In addition to these specialized assignments, the police department is active in the North East Florida Intelligence Unit, North East Florida Burglary Detectives Unit, Northeast Florida Investigative Support Center, the Violent Crime Regional Coordinating Team, Sex Assault Task Force, and Domestic Violence Task Force. The department functions as a highly trained force, serving a diverse community and handled approximately 9,400 calls for service in 2006, with an average response time of 2 minutes for calls of an emergency nature. The department is a proactive, technology-minded agency utilizing advanced techniques and equipment. The department makes use of Mobil Data Terminals (MDT's) computers in all of their patrol vehicles for reporting and obtaining information on the streets. All officers receive advanced training in law enforcement as well as career development.



POLICE OFFICER: The City of Green Cove Springs accepts applications for Full time and Part-time Officer positions. Applicants must be at least 19 years of age, a high school graduate (some college preferred), and have completed Florida Police Standards Certification, or be currently enrolled in a State approved Law Enforcement Academy, prior to consideration. Applicants must undergo screening including Polygraph Test, Physical Fitness, Written, Oral, Psychological, Medical, Drug screening, and a complete background investigation.

DISPATCHERS: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate, have the ability to multitask, learn various computer applications, possess a clear speaking voice, adequate hearing, good communication skills, and undergo a background investigation for clearance to handle confidential material.

SUPPORT: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate, have the ability to pass a typing test, multitask, learn various computer applications, possess a clear speaking voice, adequate hearing, good communication skills, and undergo a background investigation for clearance to handle confidential material.