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Deputies Check Out Libraries

Tribune photo by Jay Nolan

A deputy collects evidence after a teenager was attacked at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in April.

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies are visiting each of the county's 25 libraries to see how security can be improved.

Libraries are facing budget cuts that have curtailed the use of security guards, and deputies want to offset any potential risk to patrons.

The department's recommendations will be forwarded to the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System's security committee, which was formed after a teenage patron was attacked at Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico in April.

The girl pulled up to an after-hours book drop box where she was beaten, sexually assaulted and left near dead, deputies say. She was blinded by the attack and is expected to require long-term medical care.

Kendrick Morris, 16, has been charged with rape and aggravated battery in the case and remains in custody.

"We practice ... safety measures and training for our employees," county spokeswoman Marcia Mejia said. "After the Bloomingdale library crime happened, the library board did form a committee to look at this."

Mejia said there is no timeline for submission of deputies' recommendations to the committee.

"They are doing individual crime prevention assessments," Mejia said. "A deputy will visit each library."

There are 25 libraries in the system and two partnership libraries in Plant City and Temple Terrace, she said.

"The last I heard," she said, "it could be several weeks before they are finished."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said the security recommendations being prepared by her office will not be made public before they are delivered to the library board.

Being There Can Be Enough

Just inside the front doors of the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa sits a sheriff's deputy. Every minute the library is open, a deputy is there.

Only a few libraries have that presence. Deputies usually are posted at branches based on need, such as an anticipated influx of teens after school.

"Our job is threefold," said Reserve Deputy Gerald Reinhardt, who drew the duty on Thursday. "We are here for security. We make sure nobody is sleeping. And we control the kids."

Seldom is there a problem that goes beyond that, he said.

Mostly, he said, a deputy's presence is enough to head off trouble.

After the attack in Valrico, board members did discuss looking at ways to improve security.

For example, they talked about moving drop boxes to better-lighted areas and installing outdoor security cameras. County libraries have indoor surveillance cameras.

'This Is A Little Bit Bigger City'

University of Tampa freshman Jessica Beaugez strolled into the downtown library for the first time Thursday afternoon. The walk from campus over the Kennedy Boulevard bridge is more worrisome than walking into or out of the library, she said.

She doesn't plan to make the trek to the library after dark.

Beaugez, 18, of Melbourne, said, "This is a little bit bigger city."

She had not heard about the attack in Valrico.

She's not really concerned, though, about security at the downtown library.

Joshua Weigel, 31, is a regular at John F. Germany Public Library. He said he and his girlfriend go there two, maybe three times a week and never have had any problems.

"We come and go as we please," he said. "The only thing is that I would like to get more computer time."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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