The Hillsborough County Sheriff s Office is one of the ten largest sheriff s offices in the United States. Its dedicated deputies and civilians are among the best in the business and work hard every day for the residents of the growing community. The office s mission is to serve, protect and defend the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all. The vision of the sheriff s office is to provide effective, efficient and professional law enforcement, detention and court services while maintaining high standards of integrity, accountability and community service. The tradition of the department began in 1845, when Florida was admitted to the Union and Captain John Parker was elected the county s first sheriff. The HCSO provides law enforcement, detention, and 911-dispatch service for more than 700,000 residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County, Fla. The Hillsborough County Sheriff s Office is located in Tampa, Fla.