Year Award. are all in the law enforcement
 "A lot of deputies deseve field for one reason. We want to
 this award more than I do," help people. We want to fuilfill
 said a humble Gonzalez. "Buit our promise to serve and pro-
 these deputies are not. seen.- tectthe community."
 have the distinction of working
 by Paul Guzzo in an office where I am seen in
 the community on a regular
 basis. I am an outlet for the e C ntino
 He helps put the "Serve" in cops coming into the room and it makes me sad that society Hispanic community when it been doing busness
 "To Serve and Protect." not to be scared. In some coun- doesn't look after its kids like comes to law enforcement, so Ybor City since 1906
 That's not to say Deputy tries, the police don't protect, this anymore. People are so a lot of people know who I am.
 Juan Gonzalez doesn't help they bully. They pull people busy working to obtain shiny Buthere are so many other
 protect the community, his over and require a bribe to not accessories they forget what's dpui who uorkharder than
 status as one of the 11 mem- throw the citizen in a jail. We important the children." I d o who unfortunael wi
 bers of the Hillsborough Coun- need to let these refugees know His mother never lost sight "We don't do thisjob for the
 ty Sheriffs-Office of this, though recognition, though. We don't
 Hostage Negotia- Ju lnz i iAs Miami became dothis for awards or p dz'. Wet
 tion Team says Uan UGIIo aleZ corrupt with co- doths for awards orpzes. We
 otherwise. But it's -caine and mur-
 Gonzalez' duties der in the late
 within the Refu- 1970s and early FRA
 gee Victimnization 1980s she de BRKER
 Service Unit in cided it was time
 which he is best to relocate to the COSTANTINO
 known, recently ore family ori- AdverlE
 garnerin g him no B~ ented Tampa. -
 Gented Tampa. REAL ESTiSB SERe 'W
 the Law Enforce- The transi-
 ment Deputy of tion wasn't easy C
 the YearAward at for Gonzalez 4TH AVE
 the 22ndAnnual ough He'd LaTAMPA, FL 33605
 Hispanic Law En- nnever had to
 forcement Appre- speak English on ONE 241-6767
 ciationr Awards a regular basis in FA 813-24
 Dinne Miami and rarely
 -The Refugee was around non- ".... '
 Victimization Latinos. '.
 Servce Unit ed- "I think the
 ucates and as- t first new English
 sists immigrants toword learned inf % J ear 'e! f-Iear o!
 and Inon-English 1 aieda
 and non-Engsh Tampa was spic,"
 speaking individ- he said. "I'd never -
 uals within the heard that word G t S O. Re
 county. Gonzalez in Miami."
 assists these in- In time he'
 dividuals in com- adjusted. He
 pletingwhat most graduated from __ _G a_
 Americans see as Hillsborough
 everyday errands High School aTid
 such as obtain- embarked on a October 7, 2006, 6:30 p.m.
 ing a driver's li- corporate career Dinner lo ng Coronatin with
 Scense or search- a "We are all in the law enforcement field for one with the Coca- ce musc featurin
 ing for ajob and Colacompanyas dance usic featuring
 educates them on reason. We want to help people. We nt to a productin su- Johnny Charro BandI
 the laws of the fulfill our promise to serve and protect the com- pervisor. When I
 United States. munity." he hit his 30s, fron the
 "That's the im- though, he de- e
 portant aspect of what we do," that's not how it's done here in cided it.was time to pursue Officers and
 said Gonzalez. "We educate the United States. We're here his dream of a career in law M Members
 them. So often in law enforce- to help." enforcement.
 ment we tend to be reactive. Once he gains a "refugee's" "The timing was right," he
 But within this unit we are trust, they feel safe taking said. Krewe of
 active in preventing people advantage of his office's other He started his career with n
 from considering committing services. They can stop by his the Hillsborough County Sher- Colum bus
 a crime." office during its hours of opera- iffs Office in 1995 as a reserve l I
 For instance, Gonzalez said tions and use the computers deputy volunteering his time
 in some countries domestic to search for a job or find a for the community. In Janu- Of T
 violence is non existent. If the home, they can get advice from ary 2001 he was hired as a a
 woman is not dead, the police a staff member on any problem fulltime deputy as a domestic call 239-2534 to
 do not -come.. they are having adjusting to violence investigator with the purchase tickets
 One of the top -three rea- their new home, and on more patrol division. He also joined p pu ch_ _
 sons refugees are arrested in than one occasion Gonzalez the Sheriffs Office Critical Re- .. .. ... -- i
 Hillsborough County is for has even taught an individual spond Incident Team, which
 domestic abuse," explained who came to his office how to responds to calls for service
 SGonzalez. drive. involving mentally ill and/or
 Some men and women are "Honestly, I thirnk I have suicidal subjects. Soon after,
 raised in other countries with- the best job in the world," said he was named orie of the 11
out being taught that domestic Gonzalez. "My job is to help team members assigned to the
violence is wrong. When they people. How can you beat that? Sheriffs Office Hostage Negoti-
come to United States they This is all I've ever wanted to ation Team, which responds to
need to understand not only do." situations involving.hostages
that it is wrong but why it is Actually, Gonzalez joked and/or-barricaded subjects.
wrong. This is where Gonzales that growing up in Miami he "There are two qualities
and the Refugee Victimization had a list of three careers he needed for all of these posi--
Service Unit steps in. wanted to pursue. tions," explained Gonzalez.
 "Or it's not always educating "I wanted to be a pastor, but "First is good listening skills.
 them to not break the law. We the whole not sinning thing You have to be able to listen
 also need to explain how our held me back. I wanted to be more than you talk. Second is
 laws differ from their native a comedian, but 1 couldn't do you need the ability to relate to
 country's laws and why it is that because I'm not funny," them. I am not there to judge
 important they learn our laws," laughed Gonzalez. "My third them and say they are guilty. 1 -
 said Gonzalez. "For instance, in choice was law enforcement am there lo bring closure to a 1
 Cuba if you get pulled over on and it seemed like a good fit. dangerous situation. To do so, I
 a traffic stop you're supposed In my neighborhood, police need to be able to put myself in
 to get out of the car and walk officers always made a good their situation and understand #1 COpp8f $2.75 per b.
 to the police officer. If you do impression on me." what is going on in their head.
 that here there's a good chance He said he used to spend his For this quality, you need lifeuminum ans
 you'l get shot." days playing in Southside Park experiences, you need to have
 Gonzalez reaches out to the in Miami. The local police of- been in tough situations your-
conmmunity mostly through ficers would often stop by and self. My childhood in Miami Aluminum ExtrusiOn $.80 per lb.
church groups. specitically Lu- watch them play arid talk with helps me with that."
theran Services. He meet with them, eminding them why it's It was also his ability to lis- Copper AIuminum Radiators $1.5 per Ib.
approximately 30 immigrants- important to stay in school and ten and his ability to relate to
and non-English speaking out of trouble. people that made him the per- *Note: Must be free of an3 contaminants and attachments
individuals a week through Gonzalez grew up in the fect candidate to fill the open
Lutheran Services, educating Little Havana section of Miami position in the Refugee Victim- What Prices Have You Been Setting?
them on their new home and where everyone spoke Spanish ization Service Unit two years
instilling in them a sense of and looked after every child in ago. He continues to serve on
trust of law enforcement. the neighborhood as if they the Hostage Negotiation Team,
 "That's another major issue were their own. but he is best known for his
we have to deal with," said "In Little Havana, if I did work with local refugees, help-
Gonzalez. "Most refugees do something wrong each neigh- ing them to adjust to their new
not trust police officers. When bor would give me a whack home.
we go to Lutheran Services, on the butt on my way home, It's his hard work and
they have to warn the group where I would then get a good dedication to his job that
before we enter the room. They whack from my mom," laughed recently earned him the Law
tell the refugees that these are Gonzalez. "Seriously, though, Enforcement Deputy of the
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