Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Explained

Agencyname:Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Patch:Patch of the Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff's Office.png
Flag:Flag of Hillsborough County, Florida.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of Hillsborough County, Florida
Motto:To Serve and Protect
Formedyear:1845
Employees:3,397
Country:United States
Countryabbr:USA
Divtype:State
Divname:Florida
Subdivtype:County (United States)
Subdivname:Hillsborough
Map:Hillsborough County Florida.png
Sizearea:888sqmi
Sizepopulation:1,157,738[1]
Police:Yes
Local:Yes
Headquarters:Tampa, Florida
Sworntype:Deputy Sheriffs and Correction
Sworn:2,067 (L.E. and Detention)
Unsworntype:Civilian
Unsworn:1,375
Chief1name:Chad Chronister (R)
Chief1position:Sheriff
Officetype:Patrol District
Officename:5
Lockuptype:Jail
Lockups:2
Boat1type:Police Boat
Boats1:5
Aircraft1type:Helicopter
Aircraft1:5
Aircraft2type:Plane
Aircraft2:1
Website:www.teamhcso.com

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for Hillsborough County, Florida and is responsible for law enforcement services for the 888sqmi of unincorporated areas of the county as well as operation of the two jail facilities and provides courthouse security for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Each of the three incorporated cities (Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace) has its own police agency. Tampa International Airport and the University of South Florida also have independent police agencies.

The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. The current sheriff is Chad Chronister. Sheriff Chronister was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott on September 30, 2017, to fill the position after the retirement of David Gee.[2]

The office has one of the lowest officer-to-citizen ratios in the state with 1.4 deputies per 1000 citizens.[3] The national average is 2.3 per 1000. The population of Hillsborough County in 2006 was 1,157,738.[3]

History

The HCSO was formed in 1845.

In 1986, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accredited the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was the first sheriff's office in Florida to be nationally accredited and the 1st in the nation to be re-accredited.

Uniforms

Deputies wear dark green trousers with a black stripe on the sides. The shirt is a white poly-cotton button-down with chest pockets, epaulettes, and shoulder patches. Deputies wear silver 5-point star badges. Officers above the rank of corporal wear gold badges. A black tie is worn with the dress uniform (long sleeves) and the command staff wear black dress jackets. Black shoes or boots are also worn with the uniform. Hats are typically not worn by deputies but they are plain black straw cowboy type.

Deputies

Law enforcement deputies must be at least 21 years old and have an associate degree; a combination of high school diploma/ GED and 3 years active duty military; or high school diploma/ GED and 3 years of continuous full-time employment with the same employer. Law enforcement deputies are responsible for responding to calls for service and enforcing laws.

Detention deputies must be 19 years old and have possession of a high school diploma or a GED Certificate. They are responsible for the supervision of inmates in the county jails. They also transport inmates to and from court, prison and other counties. Detention deputies are also in charge of protection of the county courthouse and its judges.

Starting salary for a deputy trainee is 41,017.60. Starting salary for a certified law enforcement officer or detention deputy is 51,717.12.[4]

Demographics

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has approximately 2,067 deputies. Law Enforcement is made up of approximately 1,254 deputies, and Detention is made up of approximately 813 deputies.

As of 2020, law enforcement was 71.4% white, 8.5% black, 15.6% Hispanic, 1.4% Asian, 0.9% native and 2.3% other. Detention was 56.3% white, 18.9% black, 21.6% Hispanic, 1.7% Asian, 0.5% native and 0.9% other.

Overall racial demographics in 2020 for all deputies was 65.5% white, 12.6% black, 17.9% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, 0.7% native and 1.7% other.[5]

Law Enforcement has 207 females, and detention has 150 females.

Notes and References

  1. http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/docs/c/census/Hillsborough.htm Florida Census: Hillsborough County
  2. Web site: HCSO Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chad Chronister | Tampa, FL.
  3. Crime Rate In Hillsborough County Down Another Year . Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office . October 8, 2021 . https://archive.today/20160401145524/http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us:80/About-HCSO/Press-Releases/Releases/2016/March/16-128.aspx . 2016-04-01 . March 29, 2016 . unfit.
  4. Web site: Career Opportunities Join HCSO, Tampa, FL. 2021-05-27. teamhcso.com.
  5. Web site: SO Index. 2021-09-09. www.fdle.state.fl.us.
  6. Web site: Special Investigations Division HCSO, Tampa FL. 2021-05-27. teamhcso.com.
  7. Web site: HCSO debuts new DUI enforcement squad. 13 April 2019.
  8. Web site: Department of Patrol Services HCSO, Tampa FL. 2021-05-27. teamhcso.com.
  9. Web site: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office - Job Details. www.hcso.tampa.fl.us. 2018-11-20.
  10. News: Froelich . Janis D. . The Bullet That Changed Tampa . 2020-01-04 . . 11 June 2007 . https://archive.today/20130203214642/http://www2.tbo.com/special_section/black-history/2007/jun/11/me-the-bullet-that-changed-tampa-ar-189775/ . 2013-02-03 . dead.
  11. News: Vander Velde . Jessica . Botched 2006 Latin Kings investigation results in second settlement . 2020-01-07 . . 26 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130630015302/http://tampabay.com/news/courts/sheriffs-office-settles-in-botched-2006-latin-kings-investigation/2128664/ . 30 June 2013 . unfit .
  12. News: Vander Velde . Jessica . Hillsborough Sheriff's Office says deputy, teen had sex . 2020-01-07 . . 26 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330151339/http://tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/hillsborough-sheriffs-office-says-deputy-teen-had-sex/1217203 . 30 March 2012 . unfit .
  13. News: Danielson . Richard . Family of man stunned by Taser sues Hillsborough sheriff in his death . 2020-01-07 . . 23 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926064637/http://tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/family-of-man-stunned-by-taser-sues-hillsborough-sheriff-in-his-death/1123416/ . 26 September 2010 . dead .
  14. News: Deeson . Mike . Law enforcement bends rules letting drunk drivers avoid DUIs . 2020-01-07 . . 6 January 2012.
  15. Web site: HCSO Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chad Chronister | Tampa, FL.