Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

⭐️𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲⭐️ Today, 32 cadets of Detention Class 25-03 begin their journey at Sheriff Chad Chronister's Training Academy. They have chosen a path of service, committing to safety, integrity, and justice. Join us in welcoming them and wishing them success!

🎂𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲🎂 When we heard Zion was celebrating his 7th birthday with a #teamHCSO themed party, we knew we had to make it unforgettable!🎉 Deputies stopped by with a special gift, but the biggest smiles came when the kids got a chance to sit inside the patrol vehicles, see how they work, and even turn on the lights and sirens.🚔 We hope Zion had the best birthday ever. These are the moments that make our community special!

🏌️♂️⛳️𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 ⛳️🏌️♀️ A perfect day on the green for a great cause! Thanks to our incredible sponsors, players, and supporters, we raised $20,000 for Hands Across the Bay, helping those in need right here in our community. 💙 Your generosity makes a difference—one swing at a time!

🚨𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵🚨 ­The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man following a fatal crash that left one victim deceased and three children seriously injured. On February 27, 2025, Nicholas Betancourt, 33, was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for driving under the influence. He was released the following day at approximately 9 a.m. That same day, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Betancourt, whose license was suspended, was driving northbound on Gunn Highway when he entered the southbound lanes and struck another vehicle. The crash resulted in the death of the driver, Dana Rivera, 36, and seriously injured three of her children: a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 15-year-old. On March 13, 2025, #teamHCSO arrested Betancourt. More: https://lnkd.in/eWPDbt44

🔎𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡🔎 This Women's History Month, we're recognizing Donna Wallace, #teamHCSO's Director of Forensic Services. Although she has only been with us for a few years, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and has already made a meaningful difference in forensics!

🌟𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲🌟 Meet Deputy Kalin Hall! He has been with #teamHCSO for 12 years and is part of our K9 Section, where he works alongside his loyal partner, Kurfew. For Deputy Hall, the best part of the job is the unpredictability and that no two days are ever the same when working with a K9! Get to know him on this week's Fun Fact Friday

🚨𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 & 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🚨 This week, #teamHCSO’s SWAT Team hosted their intense three-day assessment, testing candidates’ strength, skill, and endurance. This rigorous program ensures only the best are equipped for the challenges ahead

🚨𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲𝗱🚨 #teamHCSO arrested Rico Gardner, 45, for human trafficking, leading to the rescue of a victim. Through their investigation, detectives determined that Gardner trafficked the victim from April 10, 2023, through November 2023. Detectives uncovered disturbing details, including evidence that Gardner forced the victim into commercial sexual acts, controlled all the money she earned, deprived her of food and sleep, and used physical violence to instill fear. "I want to commend the victim for her remarkable bravery in coming forward. No one should have to live in fear as this individual forced her to," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Her courage not only liberated herself but also serves as a beacon of hope for others who may be suffering in silence." If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, help is available. Contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately at (813) 247-8200. More: https://lnkd.in/eAzFFTym

🚨𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞🚨 #teamHCSO arrested Balin Simmons, 20, for aggravated child abuse of a three-month-old baby. Through investigative efforts, detectives determined that Simmons, the baby’s father, forcefully squeezed the infant during multiple feedings to stop the baby from crying. “It is infuriating to think that someone could do this to a helpless, innocent baby,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment. There are no excuses for such horrific behavior, only the certainty that our detectives will ensure this man faces the consequences of his actions." More: https://lnkd.in/eh9cBi7q

🚨𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬🚨 On March 11, 2025, at approximately 6:40 p.m., our Aviation Section assisted District I Street Crimes Unit in surveilling a vehicle involved in a narcotics transaction. When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the driver fled the scene. A second stop was attempted at a gas station near Nebraska Avenue and Bearss Avenue, where the vehicle initially came to a stop, but as deputies approached, the driver accelerated and fled again. With the Aviation Section providing surveillance, #teamHCSO never lost sight of the vehicle. The vehicle came to a stop at a dead end on 1st Avenue Northwest, and Nelson Alejandro Campo, 16, and Victor Reynaldo Paguada, 17, were taken into custody. “These arrests are a testament to the dedication of our deputies, who work tirelessly to keep drugs and criminals off our streets,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “HCSO will use every resource available to track you down and hold you accountable if you break the law.”