The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office By The Numbers

Working to keep more than 450,000 residents safe is a big job, but it’s one Cpl. Alan Wilkett of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said he and his fellow deputies are glad to do.

“We don’t surrender one inch,” said Wilkett at a recent meeting of the Land O’ Lakes AARP chapter.

On that day, the sheriff’s office had received more than 640 calls for service between midnight and noon, he said. A typical 24-hour period might involve between 1,500 and 1,800 calls, Wilkett added.

While deputies are stretched, he said he is proud of the performance in the field. Pasco has 1.2 deputies per thousand residents. The national average is 2.2 to 2.5 deputies per thousand. Even still, Wilkett said, deputies in Pasco boast a fast response time and a high case clearance rate.

“We’re doing more with less in Pasco County,” he said. “We will take care of our people.”

According to Kevin Doll, sheriff’s office spokesman, there are 441 law enforcement positions in the county. This figure, however, includes school resource officers, detectives, training personnel, Sheriff Bob White and other management positions, such as majors, captains and lieutenants.

This means, Wilkett said, that 1.2 deputies per thousand works out to be more like .9 that are on the streets.

Wilkett said deputies have a sense of pride about what they do.

“We do this for you, our families and the community,” he told AARP members. “We get to go out there every day and serve you.”

With concerns about burglaries, violent crime and gang activity in the county, AARP member Rosalie Johnson, 90, wondered if “there is any hope for people? I’ve lived for 90 years and every day the situation gets worse.”

"I always remain optimistic," Wilkett.

The next meeting of the AARP is set for Feb. 25 at the Land O' Lakes Community Center,  5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., starting at 10:30 a.m. For more information call George Cooper, chapter president, at 813-996-6100.