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Add heart to list of deputies' equipment

A grant will help the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office find deputies willing to wield compassion.

TAMPA - Hillsborough sheriff's officials don't just want deputies. They want deputies with heart.

Chief Deputy David Gee on Thursday announced a nearly quarter-million dollar marketing campaign to recruit deputies looking for more than just "the lights and the sirens."

"That's just a small part of this job," Gee said. "We've got to get people whose hearts are in the right place, who aren't just doing this to have a job."

A $239,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice covers the cost of the campaign, called Hiring in the Service of Spirit. The motto: "Courage. Integrity. Compassion. Could you answer the call?"

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office Web site, www.hcso.tampa.fl.us features a link to the Service of Spirit Web site.

On the site are testimonials from 21 deputies in various departments and with different levels of experience. The site also has a section about women in the department.

One deputy, Stacie Woods, talks about how a home invasion attack on her mother prompted her to leave law school for the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office, where she take a hands-on role in helping others.

The campaign comes as the Sheriff's Office prepares to offer its own training academy for the first time in more than a decade.

Gee said he hopes that by paying trainees' tuition and a salary as they go through the academy, the department can attract more diverse employees - including Hispanics and people who speak Spanish.

The testimonials unveiled Thursday feature deputies who are black, white and Hispanic. There are men and women. There's even a dog. Ruby, a 3-year-old bloodhound that works with canine Deputy Gary Herman to find missing people, is pictured with Herman in one of the posters.

Maj. Carl Hawkins said the posters will be placed in businesses, schools, universities and throughout Sheriff's Office facilities. The campaign includes brochures with lots of pictures of deputies working with the community.

The Sheriff's Office is even working with researchers to develop a test that identifies recruits who fit new standards of compassion and dedication.

"In the past we had recruiting literature with pictures of SWAT teams and boats," Gee said.

"This campaign shows real deputies, in their own words, talking about what they do."