Deputy Wayne Bunton advises those new to law enforcement that it is essential to “to treat each call and each person individually with compassion.” It is advice Deputy Bunton heeds himself, both when he served in law enforcement in Augusta, Georgia for 13 years, and as a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy. During his years of service, Deputy Bunton has experienced a variety of calls, from theft to domestic violence to homicide and everything in between. “I take every opportunity that presents itself to help people,” he says. “As law enforcement officers, our community places great trust and power in our hands. We should use this power and trust to reach out and help make a difference in our community.”

After leaving Atlanta, Deputy Bunton conducted research into various Florida law enforcement agencies and discovered that the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office was one of the most progressive and fastest growing departments in the country. “The Hillsborough

County Sheriffs Office’s community policing priority impressed me,” admits Deputy Bunton. “The agency was one of the early pioneers of the community policing movement, and it remains nationally recognized as a leader in the community policing philosophy. I love working here, and I’m proud to be a part of the new programs the agency continuously implements to help the citizens of Hillsborough County.”