|
Sheriff David Gee (R-HC) recently announced his plans to run for a second term as Sheriff of Hillsborough County. Gee commands the 10th largest suburban sheriff's agency in the United States with an annual budget of $361 million and nearly 4,000 employees. He does not have a challenger for either the primary election in August or the general election in November.
Gee, a resident of Lithia, recently celebrated his 30th year with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). He began his career as a community service officer and earned promotions and assignments to a variety of positions in patrol, aviation and homicide. Gee earned leadership positions in Internal Affairs and Administration. Prior to being elected sheriff, he served as HCSO's Chief financial Officer and Chief Deputy.
Gee's political platform rests on reducing crime throughout the county since taking office; however, he acknowledges the biggest challenges may lie ahead from a contracting economy and funding issues.
"We have done well as an agency to keep crime in check throughout the county," says Gee (48). "There are still 35,000 major crimes committed countywide annually, but the rate is pretty good when compared to peer counties across the nation."
According to Gee, 10 years ago the per capita crime rate was 68 per 1,000 residents in the county. Today, the per capita rate is 44 per 1,000 residents. "Most of the credit goes to the agency," he says. "Other neighboring cities are over 100."
Gee also credits a proactive law enforcement agency as making a big difference. "We are attacking the gang problem to ensure we stay out in front of it," he says. "We are also keeping a watchful eye on habitual offenders upon release from prison."
According to Gee, the economy and tax structure of Florida presents the biggest challenges to the agency moving forward. He uses the analogy of the old milk trucks that stopped delivering milk in a bottle to homes when it became too expensive. "Law enforcement is very expensive; however, we must continue to deliver it in spite of its expense." Gee says 80 percent of his budget goes to salaries at HCSO.
"We are moving into a new era for law enforcement," he says. "Public safety--both the police and firefighters--are going to see challenges. It should be the top concern of government. We need residents to tell this to their elected officials." Gee also mentioned that the police and firefighters are doing a terrific job at public safety.
Gee says he would like to see more residents volunteer for agency programs. "We are seeing fewer and fewer people wanting to get involved," he says. "We need a good core group of volunteers we can count on." Gee mentions the Citizens on Patrol and Neighborhood Watch programs as examples of how the community could get involved. He says Bloomingdale would be a great community to begin such a program since it has clear roadway boundaries that define the community and would make it ideal to patrol. According to recent reports from the Bloomingdale Special Taxing District, vandalism has increased by more than 50 percent in the last year.
Gee can regularly be seen patrolling the county's roads with his street deputies, on the waterways with the marine unit, and in the skies with the aviation unit (he is a backup pilot). He and his wife live in Lithia and have four children. Gee is active in his community, enjoys driving his pick-up truck, and is an avid outdoorsman.
For more information on how to volunteer for the Citizens Patrol Program, contact the HCSO at 247-0944.
|
