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Sheriff meets residents - and their concerns

David Gee hears folks on everything from traffic problems to school lockdowns to gangs.

By STEPHANIE HAYES
Published October 13, 2006

WESTCHASE - The sheriff was in town, ready to address people's pent-up concerns in person.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee hosted a town hall meeting Tuesday night in Alonso High's auditorium. Folks from Westchase, Town 'N Country and other nearby neighborhoods came out to ask questions, air woes or offer thanks to the sheriff and other deputies.

"We've been doing this for the past couple of years, and I've found it to be a very positive thing," Gee said of the forums.

Here are some points Gee discussed:

Traffic: Residents mentioned problem areas including Countryway Boulevard and Linebaugh Avenue, Webb Road and Memorial Highway and Montague Street outside of Alonso High.

Deputies are in short supply, Gee said, and he plans to hire more than 300 in the next five years, which should aid traffic enforcement. "I wish I had more deputies to put out in the bushes," he joked.

Gee encouraged individual responsibility for traffic violations. "We complain about everybody else, but we all do it, and we need to govern ourselves."

Lockdowns: Gee said the school district orders lockdowns, not the Sheriff's Office. Westchase Elementary and Davidsen Middle schools were locked down recently after suspected burglars dumped a minivan at the elementary school. "We can only inform them what the threat is and what we think about it," he said. "We can do a better job of communicating with the schools. Sometimes there's overreaction, which causes a bigger problem."

Gangs: Recent teenage high jinks in West Park Village had some wondering whether gangs were on the way in. Not so, Gee said, but don't rule it out.

"It can happen in Westchase, it can happen in Brandon - it has happened out in Brandon."

Gee said gang enforcement is a top priority, but parents need to stand guard. "You need to really be aware of the situation," he said. "You need to educate yourself about some of the telltale signs."

Crime in Westchase: Is crime on the rise here? "In relation to the rest of the county, Westchase enjoys a very favorable crime rate," he said, adding that many burglaries in Westchase are due to unlocked homes and cars. Gee encouraged residents to form neighborhood watch groups. Westchase has only five, "really low for an area as big as Westchase. I assure you, you can make a difference if you get out there and do something."

Stephanie Hayes can be reached at shayes@sptimes.com or 813 269-5303.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 08:55:14]