HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. -- The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is the latest Tampa Bay law enforcement agency to be featured on A&E's "Live PD" franchise. Sheriff Al Nienhuis stood alongside deputies as he made the announcement in a video posted to his office's Facebook page on December 17.
- Hernando Sheriff's deputies made their "Live PD: Wanted" debut on December 19
- The show follows law enforcement as they serve warrants
- The department is next expected to appear in the December 26 episode
- More Hernando County headlines
"Over the last two and a half weeks, they've been accompanied by a film crew. That film crew works for the A&E network's 'Live PD: Wanted,'" Nienhuis said in the video.
According to the show's web site, the show embeds crews "with task forces around the country as they serve warrants in real time." Nienhuis said Hernando deputies' first appearance was on December 19.
"I think it's really cool. I can't wait to see it. I think it's going to be a really cool way to learn about the county," said Brooksville resident Julia Seidelmann.
"It casts a good light on our county, creates awareness of some problems that we do have that every county has," said Bob Angier, managing partner of Easy Street Home Decor in Brooksville.
Hernando follows in the footsteps of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, which was one of the departments featured on "Live PD" until earlier this year.
Not everyone thinks participation in the show is a good idea. County commissioners Steve Champion and Wayne Dukes expressed concern that the show will portray Hernando County in a negative light and what effects that could have on areas like economic development.
Commissioner John Allocco said he sees involvement in "Live PD" as an opportunity.
"Every community has some crime, but Hernando County has historically had some pretty low crime rates," Allocco said. "I think this will be a great way to showcase the professionalism of our staff, of our officers at the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, and again, gives us an opportunity to let people know Hernando County is a pretty good place to live."
Nienhuis said in the Facebook video that Hernando deputies are also expected to appear in the December 26 episode of "Live PD: Wanted," which airs at 10 p.m. on A&E.