The Hernando County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Al Nienhuis, is the primary criminal justice agency for the county.  Over 600 employees, sworn and civilian, compose the department, providing law enforcement, correctional, and animal enforcement, and other services to the jurisdiction.  The Office provides contracted law enforcement for the cities of Brooksville and Weeki Wachee.  Hernando County is located approximately 45 minutes north of Tampa on the west-central coast of Florida.  Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Hernando County is still a mix of suburban and rural areas.  The population has grown considerably in the past decade, and is approaching 200,000 residents.
This is the third year HCSO has participated in the Patch Patch Project.  We have partnered with the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation to contribute funds to local residents who are battling cancer, so their financial worries can be mitigated, with the hope they can focus on their treatment.  Over the past years, over $2500 has been donated to citizens of Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties, where the majority of our employees live.