Submitted by the Pasco Sheriff’s office
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office continuously strives to better the lives of our community and one way in which that’s achieved is through community outreach. We’re able to better identify and solve crimes within Pasco County by forging partnerships with citizens and businesses and working with them to increase public safety. PSO has built these relationships and met the needs of the public through numerous events and outreach programs.
This month, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office hosted PSO4KIDS, an event focused on connecting with local kids and community members. The event was held at Elsie Memorial Park in Spring Hill and gave citizens the opportunity to meet PSO deputies. Kids were able to enjoy train rides, a bounce house and even played a game of kickball with PSO members. This event was made possible thanks to the generosity of our community partners, such as Grace Family Church and Shady Hills United Methodist Church.
We continually seek ways in which we can connect with the community and have two Officer Friendlies to aid in that endeavor. Their efforts have helped PSO build community trust and stay informed on community needs. You may see them driving around Pasco or attending local events, like community group meetings or PSO’s food distributions. They enjoy interacting with the community and interacting with children.
Making a positive impact on Pasco’s youth is paramount to PSO’s mission. We’re able to reach more of Pasco’s youth through various programs, such as Juvenile Choice and PSO’s Explorer Post 916.
The Juvenile Choice program is geared towards mentoring youth. It informs them on the real consequences for poor decisions and encourages kids to make strides towards a positive future. Recently, the program has evolved to include mentoring programs that focus on issues kids are seeing today, such as school threats, drugs, and online dangers.
Explorer Post 916 focuses on those between the ages of 14-21 who are interested in law enforcement careers. Members of this program receive training in various topics, including officer safety, report writing, interviewing, traffic stops and more.
Along with our Officer Friendlies and youth programs, PSO also looks out for the livelihood of business owners in Pasco through our Business Crime Prevention program. This program provides information to business owners on steps they can take to safeguard their businesses from crime. The Business Crime Prevention program provides guidance on safety tips, answers questions and offers training.
PSO is proud to serve the citizens of Pasco in a variety of ways, including through community outreach and partnerships. To learn more about our programs and future events, follow us on social media and visit pascosheriff.com.
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.” – Charles Spurgeon