New CRO Patrols Westchase Streets

Deputy Phil Acaba sure knows a good thing when he sees it.  When Westchase’s Community Resource officer recently retired, Acaba jumped at the chance to fill the squad car protecting the Westchase area.

Acaba brings to the position years of experience, a dedication to addressing the needs of communities and an appreciation for Westchase’s quality of life. Speaking of District III of the Hillsborough County Sheriff Department, in which Westchase lies, Acaba says, “I’ve been a road deputy for 23 years in the same district.”

Before accepting the Westchase assignment, Acaba served the Town N County and Carrollwood areas.  He’s excited to be in Westchase and is looking forward to helping to preserve what we value here – and protect us from what we do not.

Law enforcement roots run deep in Acaba’s family.  Born in Queens, New York, Acaba’s father was a policeman in New York City.  Because of the danger involved in the metropolitan area, his father had some strong words of wisdom for his son.  “If you want to become a cop, do it somewhere else,” he advised.

Though never intending to follow in his dad’s footsteps, Acaba did just that.  After graduating from high school in Long Island, he set out for other places and ended up as a psychology major at University of Tampa.  While in college, he served in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) as a member of the military police (MP).  He graduated from University of Tampa in 1985. “I realized quickly that I couldn’t do much with a psych degree without a masters, so I applied with the sheriff’s department,” he says.

He got the job and has been doing it ever since.  All those sociology and psychology classes, however, weren’t wasted time.  “I really use a lot of what I learned in those classes on my job everyday!” he chuckles.

While Acaba has held the same position for the past 23 years, he notes each community is very different from the other.  Each day also brings a whole new set of issues. “The concerns of the residents are very different,” he explains.  “Here, it’s all about the quality of life issues like vagrancy, panhandlers and traffic enforcement.” These issues and concerns, he says, are very different from neighbor disputes over property lines or criminal issues.

With school back in session, Acaba is out early in the mornings looking for truants.  “Ninety percent of daytime burglaries are committed by kids cutting school,” he explains.  “I look around the mall, watch for them leaving the school areas and especially McDonald’s.  I find a lot of them there!”
Acaba says the typical Westchase call for his help usually involves some minor neighbor complaint.  As the foreclosure deputy, he also gets called if someone discovers a stash of stolen property placed in a vacant home or if a homeless person has taken up residence in a vacant one.

Acaba says there is a lot to like about his job as community resource officer.  “I like the freedom I have to assist people the way they need to be assisted. I’m not tied to the car.  I can sit down and mediate with you to get a problem resolved.”

His philosophy is simple.  “We’ve got to help ourselves,” he says.  “Don’t rely on public agencies to solve all your problems.  Certainly call me and I’ll give you the right number to contact or come out and talk to you, but self-reliance is a good thing.  And Westchase is very self-reliant.”

Like most Westchase residents, Acaba enjoys family time when he isn’t working.  “My family is my hobby,” he says.  “When I work, I work, but when I’m off, I’m with my wife and kids.”

In that respect, this family man has much in common with Westchase parents.
And with his badge and watchful eye, Acaba is a welcome addition to our neighborhood.

By Lisa Stephens, Resident of West Park Village

Stephens, a resident of West Park Village, is always looking for interesting Westchase residents to profile. She can be contacted at lmsfla@verizon.net.