Sheriff's Deputy Named Sun City Center Community Leader Of Year

SUN CITY CENTER, FL -- Working in Sun City Center isn't just a job to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Merry. It's a calling.

According to the Sun City Area Chamber of Commerce, it's one he answers so well that they named him the 2017 Community Leader of the Year.

At its seventh annual awards dinner Jan. 12, the chamber presented Merry with its prestigious leadership award for his dedication to the community.

Merry, a veteran community resource deputy at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, was recognized for his efforts to educate seniors on how to better protect themselves against fraud. He holds monthly classes on identity theft, phishing scams, IRS tax fraud and other crime-related subjects.

His duties don't end when class is over, however. He is accessible to the community at all hours of the day, even if it's only a minor issue.

Merry said he was thrilled to receive the award.

"It was a great honor," he said. "I work hard for the residents. I could not do it without my community partners."

Merry began his career in 1998 with the Hall County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, where he conducted identity theft and fraud investigations. He came to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in 2011, where he worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

He accepted the position as community resource deputy in April 2015, saying, "I'm a proponent of giving residents the tools they need to prevent them from falling prey to a scam. I hope to make a difference."

Video via Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce