Hillsborough County Looks to Bring Residents, Deputies Together for Dialogue

TAMPA, FL – Law enforcement shootings have made news around the country and close to home. However, several community organizations and government agencies would like to open the door for communication between Hillsborough County’s law enforcement personnel and its residents.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, United Way Suncoast, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the School District of Hillsborough County will sponsor the first of eight Community-Law Enforcement Workshops on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 17-18 at Clair-Mel Elementary School, 1025 S. 78th St. in Tampa.

Twelve Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies and 45 citizen attendees will be pre-registered from a pool of people who contact Miller’s office. The deadline to pre-register for the Clair-Mel workshop is Tuesday, Oct. 11. Priorities will be given to people who live within the 33619 zip code.

The workshop theme is “Community and Law Enforcement working together toward greater intercultural understanding.”

Clair-Mel itself has been in the spotlight since the Aug. 30 shooting death of an unarmed black man by a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy. Levonia “Daddyman” Riggins, 22, was shot and killed by a SWAT Team member during a warrant search.

While everyone inside the home came out at deputies’ commands, the sheriff’s office said Riggins remained inside the home in the 1400 block of Longwood Loop. Deputy Caleb Johnson, 32, is on administrative leave while the shooting is being reviewed.

“Our nation continues to witness tragic and avoidable incidents involving law enforcement officers and citizens,” said BOCC Chairman Lesley “Les” Miller Jr. “The goal of these workshops is to create honest and respectful dialogue between our communities and law enforcement officials so that we can build and maintain positive and productive relationships in our neighborhoods.”

Over the next 12 months, Hillsborough County will sponsor a total of eight workshops: Five for adults, two for youth and one leadership retreat for elected officials and community leaders. Dates and locations for the final seven workshops have not been determined yet.

The workshops, approved by the BOCC in August, are free with limited space available.

To request an invitation to attend the Oct. 17-18 workshop at Clair-Mel Elementary School, call (813) 272-5720 or e-mail WilliamsLA@hillsboroughcounty.org or JenkinsAD@hillsboroughcounty.org.

With reporting by Sherri Lonon

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