Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Procedures

Hillsborough County Owned Property

• Crimes committed on county-owned property will be investigated by the Sheriff's Office, regardless of location.
• Supervisors will route a copy of the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency for information purposes only.

Juvenile Runaways

• Runaways from Children's Home, Haven Poe Runaway Center, Lake Magdalene Juvenile Home, Joshua House, and Gates Program will be handled according to the following:
  • Juveniles 12 years or older and deemed habitual runaways (third time reported within 365 days) may be referred to a DPS community service aide.
  • Deputies will be dispatched for runaways under 12 years, mentally ill, or suspected foul play.
  • Deputies will not be dispatched for runaways from private homes and/or foster homes unless the child is under 12, mentally ill, or suspected foul play.

Hospitals

• Tampa General Hospital will be handled by District V personnel.
• St. Joseph's Main Hospital will be handled by District III personnel.
• If the investigation involves a major crime or requires locating a crime scene, the deputy working the zone where the crime occurred will be dispatched to the hospital, regardless of location.

Natural Death Investigations

• The Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) will be notified by the investigating deputy at the scene on all death investigations.
• If the MEO accepts jurisdiction, the deputy will remain at the scene until the decedent is removed.
• If the MEO declines jurisdiction, the deputy will offer to assist with funeral home notification but will not make a recommendation.

James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital

• The Sheriff's Office and the FBI have concurrent jurisdiction at this facility.
• The FBI will investigate violations, such as theft or destruction of government property.
• The Sheriff's Office will investigate violations of local or state laws (misdemeanor and felony).
• The Sheriff's Office may enforce traffic laws on hospital property.

Patrol Procedures

• Patrol supervisors will not hold calls for service for the next shift.
• Patrol deputies will answer calls for service until the end of their tour of duty.
• Patrol supervisors may authorize deputies to hold a report for completion the following day if the report is minor in nature.

Arson/Fire Investigations

• Deputies will be dispatched to fire scenes if requested by the fire department for traffic/crowd control or if certain criteria are met.
• An offense report will be originated on fires resulting in death or serious injury, intentionally caused fires, or fires with suspicious or undetermined causes.

Gas Thefts

• Every "self-service" gasoline pump must display an easily readable sign advising customers that pre-payment is required.
• Reports of drive-off thefts of gasoline will be made in person at the Sheriff's Office or one of its community stations, with evidence and a signed statement from the establishment.

Medical Emergency

• Deputies will initiate an incident report for all accidental injuries to children 5 years or younger and the deployment of Narcan or an AED.

School-Based Threats

• Deputies will assist school security and contact the General Offense Section for a search warrant.

Suspicious Mail

• Deputies will call the Bomb Team and Hazmat for suspicious mail.

Elderly Affairs

• Deputies will complete a General Offense Report and list the elderly person as a subject entity if they suffer from physical or mental incapacitations that restrict their ability to perform normal activities of daily living.
• Deputies will notify the Elderly Referral Hotline and document the notification in the General Offense Report.

Welfare Checks

• Deputies will make entry into a structure through the rear if possible, to minimize damage.
• If forced entry is made, deputies will contact the complainant and advise what was discovered.
• If forced entry is made, deputies will initiate an offense report in accordance with GEN SOP 900.00.

Harassing Phone Calls

• Deputies will respond to investigate incidents if a domestic relationship exists or there is an injunction in effect, or if the call reflects a threat to do bodily injury and/or death to a complainant.

Sexting

• Sexting involves a minor knowingly using a device to transmit or distribute a photograph or video of nudity, harmful to minors.
• A minor does not violate this statute if they did not solicit the photograph or video, took reasonable steps to report it, and did not transmit or distribute it to a third party.
• The search warrant will only be issued if it is a felony investigation.
• Deputies will interview witnesses, obtain written statements, and originate an offense report.
• For a first offense, a civil citation will be completed and forwarded to the Juvenile Probation Department.

Hillsborough County Owned Property

• Crimes committed on county-owned property will be investigated by the Sheriff's Office, regardless of location.
• Supervisors will route a copy of the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency for information purposes only.

Juvenile Runaways

• Runaways from Children's Home, Haven Poe Runaway Center, Lake Magdalene Juvenile Home, Joshua House, and Gates Program will be handled according to the following:
  • Juveniles 12 years or older and deemed habitual runaways (third time reported within 365 days) may be referred to a DPS community service aide.
  • Deputies will be dispatched for runaways under 12 years, mentally ill, or suspected foul play.
  • Deputies will not be dispatched for runaways from private homes and/or foster homes unless the child is under 12, mentally ill, or suspected foul play.

Hospitals

• Tampa General Hospital will be handled by District V personnel.
• St. Joseph's Main Hospital will be handled by District III personnel.
• If the investigation involves a major crime or requires locating a crime scene, the deputy working the zone where the crime occurred will be dispatched to the hospital, regardless of location.

Natural Death Investigations

• The Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) will be notified by the investigating deputy at the scene on all death investigations.
• If the MEO accepts jurisdiction, the deputy will remain at the scene until the decedent is removed.
• If the MEO declines jurisdiction, the deputy will offer to assist with funeral home notification but will not make a recommendation.

James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital

• The Sheriff's Office and the FBI have concurrent jurisdiction at this facility.
• The FBI will investigate violations, such as theft or destruction of government property.
• The Sheriff's Office will investigate violations of local or state laws (misdemeanor and felony).
• The Sheriff's Office may enforce traffic laws on hospital property.

Patrol Procedures

• Patrol supervisors will not hold calls for service for the next shift.
• Patrol deputies will answer calls for service until the end of their tour of duty.
• Patrol supervisors may authorize deputies to hold a report for completion the following day if the report is minor in nature.

Arson/Fire Investigations

• Deputies will be dispatched to fire scenes if requested by the fire department for traffic/crowd control or if certain criteria are met.
• An offense report will be originated on fires resulting in death or serious injury, intentionally caused fires, or fires with suspicious or undetermined causes.

Gas Thefts

• Every "self-service" gasoline pump must display an easily readable sign advising customers that pre-payment is required.
• Reports of drive-off thefts of gasoline will be made in person at the Sheriff's Office or one of its community stations, with evidence and a signed statement from the establishment.

Medical Emergency

• Deputies will initiate an incident report for all accidental injuries to children 5 years or younger and the deployment of Narcan or an AED.

School-Based Threats

• Deputies will assist school security and contact the General Offense Section for a search warrant.

Suspicious Mail

• Deputies will call the Bomb Team and Hazmat for suspicious mail.

Elderly Affairs

• Deputies will complete a General Offense Report and list the elderly person as a subject entity if they suffer from physical or mental incapacitations that restrict their ability to perform normal activities of daily living.
• Deputies will notify the Elderly Referral Hotline and document the notification in the General Offense Report.

Welfare Checks

• Deputies will make entry into a structure through the rear if possible, to minimize damage.
• If forced entry is made, deputies will contact the complainant and advise what was discovered.
• If forced entry is made, deputies will initiate an offense report in accordance with GEN SOP 900.00.

Harassing Phone Calls

• Deputies will respond to investigate incidents if a domestic relationship exists or there is an injunction in effect, or if the call reflects a threat to do bodily injury and/or death to a complainant.

Sexting

• Sexting involves a minor knowingly using a device to transmit or distribute a photograph or video of nudity, harmful to minors.
• A minor does not violate this statute if they did not solicit the photograph or video, took reasonable steps to report it, and did not transmit or distribute it to a third party.
• The search warrant will only be issued if it is a felony investigation.
• Deputies will interview witnesses, obtain written statements, and originate an offense report.
• For a first offense, a civil citation will be completed and forwarded to the Juvenile Probation Department.