Leaders in Hillsborough County are trying to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community and they’re starting with a two-day workshop.

  • 2-day workshop in Tampa on greater cultural understanding
  • Law enforcement, community involved
  • 60 residents, 22 deputies attended 1st day

Monday was day one of the event held at Clair-Mel Elementary School in Tampa.

"Community and law enforcement working together toward greater intercultural understanding" was the theme of the workshop.

The event began with Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies getting to know the residents and residents learning more about the deputies. Organizers used different activities that allowed each person in attendance to interview the person next to them.

Community law enforcement workshop manager Fred Herns was the force behind the Hillsborough County Community-Law Enforcement Workshop Monday night.

“We pretty much knew the model. We made a few changes because it’s been 11 years since we had a workshop. And we think the turnout is great and we’re happy with the enthusiasm,” he said.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Major Willie Parker said the sheriff is in full support of the program. There were 22 deputies from their agency in attendance.

“It will help them be better deputies. Not that they’re bad deputies but they will have a better understanding and know what it’s like on both sides,” Parker said.

There were people like Ola Mitchell there giving praise to the initiative.

“It gets the community involved as far as knowing what’s going on in the community and working together to solve any differences in law enforcement and the community,” Mitchell said.

But there were other residents like Kathy Gillette, who said there will need to be more done. She was good friends with Levonia Riggins. He was shot and killed by Hillsborough County deputies in August and Gillette said the community was left with more questions than answers, even after a string of protests.

Gillette said that distrust is why she’s showed up to the workshop. She planned to bring back the message to the rest of the community.

“I am going to spread the news of what I learned, thank God they trust me to the degree when I bring it back to them that this is what happened, this is what was said. And they’ll take that and hopefully make some type of a change,” Gillette said.

It’s those kinds of steps that organizers say will help to continue their efforts long after this workshop is over.

There were almost 60 residents and 22 deputies at Monday’s workshop. Part two of the workshop is Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Clair-Mel Elementary School. People attending had to pre-register to participate.