DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It was an emotional day for the 17th Daytona Beach Police Chief, Jakari Young is the city’s first black police chief. Young, 42, was sworn in as the new police chief on Friday morning.
“I feel like I won the Super Bowl. That’s how I feel right now,” he said.
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Young replaced former police chief Craig Capri who’s leaving after a 30-year career in law enforcement. Capri took over as police chief four years ago replacing Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
“As I leave and start my next adventure, Jakari has been preparing for this his whole career. He’s going to come in and do a phenomenal job!” Capri said.
Colleagues from police departments, family, and community members filled the outside of city hall as Young thanked mentors past and present. He also spent time thanking his family including his mother who could only watch the ceremony online.-
“They say we made history today. That’s what they tell us. They say we made history. But if it were not for those values and those principles that you instilled in me that carried over, I might not have made it. So, I thank you mom and I love you,” said Young.
For the last 19 years, Young climbed the ranks at the Daytona Beach Police Department and served the last three years as Deputy Chief. He addressed the cameras after the ceremony and said he’s worked hard for the title and vows to be everyone’s police chief.
“I know there may have been some folks that questioned how I got here or maybe felt that I only got the position because of the color of my skin, I can’t do anything to change those folks' minds. But just in time, I think I’ll win over a lot of those folks that are skeptics right now,” he said.
Young said his immediate goals moving forward include maintaining peace and order, continuing with the transparency in the department, and always engaging with the community.
“You have a police chief who wants to do nothing more than to be a blessing to this city,” said Young.