TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is highlighting Hispanic leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month as it works to ensure the agency reflects the growing Hispanic community it serves.
Detective Renee Garcia, a homicide detective who has been with the agency for 10 years, was among five people recognized this year by the Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council at its annual gala.
Garcia said law enforcement was his passion before he ever put on a badge.
“It’s kind of been the training and helping people in their time of crisis,” Garcia said.
Garcia began his career with the sheriff’s office as a patrol officer before becoming a homicide detective. He said the work often places deputies and detectives alongside families during difficult moments.
“We deal with people in kind of their worst times and their worst moments, so it is kind of rewarding when we’re able to help the families out, bring justice to them,” Garcia said.
The sheriff’s office says its workforce is more than 60% diverse.
Garcia said his background and ability to speak Spanish helps him connect with members of the Hispanic community during investigations.
“Being able to speak Spanish or being able to share the cultures of the community we assist, I think, brings a sense of comfortability with them,” Garcia said. “It helps them open up and it helps them trust us to help in these cases.”
The Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council has worked for more than 40 years to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the Hispanic community.
Nelcy Baltz, a member at-large of the Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council, said the annual gala recognizes Hispanics making a difference while giving the community a stronger voice.
“It’s that feeling of being part of the community and that my voice has validity, that I can be that unifier in the community,” Baltz said.
Garcia said the council has helped raise awareness about the Sheriff’s Office and the resources it provides.
“They’ve worked to kind of bridge that gap between law enforcement and the community,” Garcia said.
Garcia said wearing the badge while staying connected to his roots is also a way to show others what is possible.
“Being part of the Hispanic community and wearing the badge as a law enforcement officer motivates me and gives me the ability to also build the trust with the community,” Garcia said.
He said he hopes that representation inspires another generation of Hispanics to consider careers in law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council’s work also extends to students. During this year’s gala, several students attending USF and Hillsborough College received scholarships. The council also works with community partners to provide laptops to local high school students.