Born in Texas of Mexican parents, Deputy Villarreal grew up in a culture where problems were handled by the community, and law enforcement was not often turned to for assistance. But Deputy Jessie Villarreal knew since he was a boy that he wanted to become a law enforcement officer and he set his goals high to accomplish this. Deputy Villarreal became the first person in his family to enter the military, the first to get a college degree and the first to enter law enforcement. In 1995 Deputy Villarreal joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.

“When I was young, I experienced first hand the emotional trauma that violence inflicts,” Deputy Villarreal states. “I wanted to be able to help protect people.”

Serving as a Community Resource Deputy in Wimauma, a tight-knit community of migrant workers, Deputy Villarreal used his bilingual skills to create lasting relationships and put long-term

solutions into action. “In the Hispanic culture, everything you do represents your heritage and your family. In Wimauma, I served as living proof to the residents that someone from a similar background can reach his goals. I take time to teach people, especially young people, on what steps to take to make their dreams a reality. The key to establishing a trusting relationship with a community is to get to know the people of the area, and to let them know you. When you serve a community with this principle, the community relates to you and supports you,” explains Deputy Villarreal.

Deputy Villarreal’s success is a testament to his patience and understanding of a community that typically looks upon government agencies with skepticism and mistrust. “I take great pride and satisfaction in knowing that I helped make a difference to families and businesses in that area. They showed their appreciation with simple gestures of human kindness,” states Deputy Villarreal. “I met people that helped enrich my life in numerous ways, to whom I will always be indebted.”