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Deputy Works For A Safer Community

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By Lenora Lake, Tribune Correspondent

Published: January 2, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - The idea of an apartment alliance, started in the University Area by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Community Resource Deputy Barbara Reichard, is spreading — with other areas of the county organizing groups.

"The chief [Chief Deputy Joe Docodo] really liked how this was done and is wanting it in more districts," said Reichard, who has worked for 10 years in the community west of the University of South Florida.

Deputy Barbara Reichard

The alliance was a follow-up to the sheriff's office suing four apartment complexes over criminal activities and troublesome calls in the area bordered by Fowler, Bearss and Nebraska avenues and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Reichard said there are about 200 apartment complexes in the area. She saw a need for more communication between the sheriff's office and the apartment owners or managers and among the complexes. Two meetings of the apartment alliance have been held, and a third one is set for January.

"It's making them aware and getting them involved in the problem-solving process," Reichard said. "Sometimes we see things they don't see, and sometimes they see things we don't see."

Reichard also helped address another problem in the community. Using $1,500 of donated money, she and others purchased a truckload of food to be distributed from the University Area Social Services Center on North 22nd Street.

"My office is in there, and I saw the food bank was almost empty. They had, like, 12 cans of vegetables," she said. "I see how many people come in and out."

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