Deputy Donald Denbow spends many of his days in the Specialist Unit sewing new sleeves onto used mattresses for the inmate beds at the Pinellas County Jail, but it saves the sheriff’s office $50 each. He doesn’t mind the extra effort though because he enjoys fixing things and finding new ways to lower the agency’s operational costs.

For Corporal Jason Moyer, it's about bucking the societal trend of just throwing things away. “The best option isn’t always to buy something brand new,” Corporal Moyer said. “Oftentimes it’s better to reinvest in what you have. Our unit tries to find the middle ground in every decision we make on whether to replace something or fix it. We keep in mind what’s best for the agency.” 

When the Explorer Post 900 no longer needed their trailer, Deputy Denbow and other unit members repurposed it to be used during hurricane responses. He saw a need for extra beds, an office, and an air-conditioned space after the Hurricane Michael deployment, so they gutted out the bathroom, replaced the area with a desk, and installed bunk beds. 

When things can’t be fixed or repurposed, the Specialist Unit orders new materials or items. Last year, during the start of the pandemic, masks were difficult to find. While the Purchasing and Materials Division worked on ordering massive amounts for the jail, Deputy Denbow used his sewing skills to make masks in the meantime. The unit ordered the materials and created the masks with the help of four female inmates that had sewing skills.

“The inmates that are sentenced by the courts to work crews contribute to a lot of the labor at the jail and help save money,” Corporal Moyer said. “When they get out of jail, they can use the skills that they learned, like landscaping or building furniture, to get a job. It also gives them something to work toward and stay busy.”

The unit has about 50-60 inmates on its work crews at any given time. They help do all the landscaping at the jail, the laundry, pressure washing, and special projects like trimming the palm trees at Fort de Soto for Ride and Run with the Stars. 

“We do a little bit of everything,” Corporal Moyer said. “No two days are the same.”
Not only does the unit do a lot of routine cleaning, stocking, and maintenance, but they also work behind the scenes during pivotal moments. During Deputy Michael J. Magli’s funeral, they set up chairs outside the church for the final honors and transported flowers from the church back to the Sheriff’s Administration Building for the family.

Currently, the team is rebuilding the stage trailer that is used for events. It originally was made of wood, but over the years, it has worn out and rotted. They are replacing the wood with composite material so that it will last longer and be ready in time for Ride and Run with the Stars in December.

“Everyone in this unit takes pride in what they do,” Deputy Denbow said. “We make sure everything at the sheriff’s office looks the best it can. At the end of the day, we get to see the things we built and feel rewarded for all the hard work.”