Kenneth "Kenny" Wesley Brooke, Ii

Retired Police Sergeant Kenneth Wesley "Kenny" Brooke II passed away on January 17, 2020 at the age of 66.  At the time of his passing, he was battling with Esophageal Cancer which later spread to his lungs.

Sgt. Brooke is a native of Chicago Heights, Illinois Born to Kenneth W Brooke Sr and Betty Brooke.  His family moved to Jacksonville in 1968. Kenny later attended and graduated from Terry Parker H.S

On September 24, 1973 he started working for the J.S.O. in the Communications Center as a civilian dispatcher.  His official title was a “Police Records Specialist” where he worked for 16 years.  During that time, he was promoted to Sergeant and Lieutenant.  He attended the “cross over” academy on Huffman Rd., to become a Police Officer in July 1990.

He worked the ‘ole Zone 4 South until 1994.  He was then assigned as an Internal Affairs Detective, for a short period of time, before returning to Patrol in Zone 3. He later became an Evidence Technician for the next 4 years.  In April 2000, he was Promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  He spent the next two years as a Patrol Sgt, before being transferred to the Detective Division where he was assigned to the “Family Violence Unit” which handled Child Abuse and Domestic Violence cases for 18 months.  Sgt. Brooke finished his career with the J.S.O., in the Detective Division, where he spent the last five years as a Homicide Sgt. and Crime Scene Unit Sgt.

He retired from the J.S.O. in June 2008 after an amazing career that spanned 35 years!

After retirement, Sgt. Brooke returned to the J.S.O. where he worked in the Property Room for two years before joining the newly formed Duval County School Board Police Department in August 2010.

During his time with the D.C.S.B.P.D., Kenny worked as a School Resource Officer and Investigator. Kenny was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in June 2013 and continued serving his community until a week before his passing.

Some of Sgt. Brooke’s many friends said, “Kenny had a servant’s heart and was a living example of God’s word as illustrated in Ephesians 6:6”.

Sgt. Brooke is survived by his wife Julie, to whom he was married for 24 years, and three children, Diane Salazar (John), Bailey Brooke, and Ethan Brooke, and two grandchildren Tony and Jeremy Salazar. Sister Holly Thompson (John), “Brother” Nick Tison (Lucy), Mother in Law Betty Myers (George), Sister’s in Law Wanda Hanscom (David) and Kelly Helwig (Jim). Several nieces and nephews. The most amazing friends that any man could ever hope to have. Catherine Daughtry who lovingly cared for him daily at the end of his illness.

He had a deep love for law enforcement and wearing the uniform.  One of Sgt. Brooke’s wishes was to ask all active law enforcement officers to wear their uniform as they attend the service.

Sgt. Brooke will be cremated.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday January 25th, 2020 at the Westside Baptist Church officiated by Brother Keith Russell located at 7775 Herlong Rd.  Visitation will begin at 3p.m. after which a memorial service will follow at 4p.m.

Full honors will be rendered by the J.S.O. Honor Guard