Pasco sheriff recruits Jeep owners to volunteer

NEW PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) - Corporal Arthur Madden is putting together a brand new volunteer Jeep Unit at the Pasco Sheriff's Office.  It would be one of the first of its kind in the Tampa Bay area.

It's a team you and your rig could be a part of.

"Our community has, at times, the need to get into terrain that is tough to navigate whether in one of our patrol vehicles or SUV," Cpl. Madden said.

Qualified applicants will receive specialized training, and will have to sign a waiver. 

"The Jeeping community is absolutely amazing. I mean, they have that love and desire to go out and do and help," he said. "It doesn't have to be tricked out… the ability to travel off road in various terrains."

And what's just as important as the Jeep, is the driver. 

"When we call you out, it's not because we want to play tennis, probably. It's raining, it may be inconvenient, but those are the people we want: the diehard [who say], 'Hey, I want to help,'" he said.

More than 50 applications have already been filed. For more information on how to sign up, visit https://pascosheriff.com/jeep-unit/.