The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and terminated the employment of one of its own.
During the early morning hours of July 9, 2020 deputies encountered a person near the intersection of North Nebraska Avenue and Annie Street East who was suspected of leaving DACCO Behavioral Health Center after he was inadvertently transported there from HCSO’s detention facilities. The individual was taken into custody as deputies attempted to positively identify him. This individual was not cooperating with deputies and refused to confirm his identity. At this time, Sergeant Janak Amin, who was on the scene, pointed his firearm at the subject’s and threatened his life because he would not immediately provide his name.
The individual in custody was not armed and made no aggressive actions toward any Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Deputies and another supervisor, who were all at the scene, intervened to de-escalate the situation and were able to positively identify the subject.
Following the incident, deputies immediately came forward and HCSO’s command staff was notified right away. With the exception of the individual involved, all of the witnesses from this incident are sworn law enforcement personnel.
This afternoon, Janak Amin was arrested on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. His employment with HCSO was also terminated.
“There is no question, this incident is detestable and not representative of who we are as a law enforcement agency,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The almost 4,000 men and women of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office are so very proud to serve and protect the community. When a member of our team breaks the oath they have taken and the law, it erodes the sacred trust we have with the community that we have worked so. hard to earn. As your Sheriff, I will always fight for and protect victims and peruse lawbreakers, even if it’s one of our own. I want to also commend the deputies who came forward to immediately came forward to report this most egregious act. While I know it was difficult to do so, this is the type of transparency we must have as a law enforcement agency, whose mission is to serve, protect and defend the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all.”
In recent weeks, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has re-emphasized its “Duty to Intervene” through a training video that all personnel was required to watch. HCSO requires sworn personnel to intervene when they witness violations of our policies and professional standards.
