Every year, dozens of Villagers and members of the community volunteer at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. And every year, Sheriff Bill Farmer and his staff hold a luncheon as a small token of their appreciation of volunteer efforts.
This year was no different, as the sheriff’s office held its luncheon at Golden Corral in The Villages. Nearly two dozen volunteers showed up to this year’s appreciation luncheon.
Volunteers help the sheriff’s office in a variety of ways, from answering telephones to helping direct people to the appropriate channels of law enforcement.
The volunteer program allows the department to save resources on extra staff and focus those additional resources elsewhere.
“Without the volunteers, we’d have to hire more people,” explained Lt. Robert Siemer.
Ralph Pasquino, who has been volunteering for the Sheriff’s Office for nearly a decade, is proud to offer any help he can to the boys in blue.
“We have a great sheriff’s department here. I cannot believe all of the things that they do and how they benefit the community,” commented Pasquino.
Pasquino currently mans the morning shift of the Peace of Mind program. Peace of Mind is a call-in program that is offered to residents who live alone or in two-person households in which one person is the caregiver. Participants call-in each morning and let the volunteer manning the phones know that they are A-OK.
Pasquino says he very much enjoys the program, the opportunity to speak with fellow Villagers, and the approach the Sheriff’s Office has taken with the community.
“I get a lot of enjoyment out of just talking to the people…We are very fortunate to have the Sheriff’s Office…They’re just people oriented.”