Richele Wyatt is a homegrown Hendry County native. She was raised in LaBelle, attended the area schools, and graduated from LaBelle High School in 2005.

Courtesy photo/ Nicki Hunt

Growing up, Wyatt knew she loved working with people and children. After graduation from high school, she was not sure what career path she wanted to focus on. All she knew was that she wanted to help those in need.

In January of 2006, she was hired as a dispatcher for the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. Although Wyatt enjoyed her job for several years, she felt like something was missing. The original adrenaline rush that she once felt whenever she received a call started to wane. She wanted to do more than just talk to a voice on a phone – she wanted to see their faces.

In October 2010, Deputy Wyatt decided to make a big change. She set her sights on a new career path within the world of law enforcement. She attended the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy in 2011 and received her law enforcement officer certification.

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office soon hired Wyatt as a road patrol deputy. When asked to describe a day in the line of duty, she stated that “depending on the day, it can be steady or it can be non-stop.” Deputy Wyatt spends most of her time on the road patrolling, but often responds to medical and fire calls if needed. Her job keeps her on her toes, and there’s not much time for any dull moments.

Deputy Wyatt enjoys her shift work. She has been working with her sergeant and another deputy for nearly two years. Together, they make a strong team. Being in this line of work, Wyatt hopes “to somewhat change people’s opinion of law enforcement.”

Recently, Deputy Wyatt found that she has an interest in joining the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). In order to make that move, she will have to apply, take a test and sit before a panel of administrators who will determine if she has what it takes to join the CID team.

In her free time, Deputy Wyatt and her firefighter husband have a love for saltwater and off-shore fishing. It’s a great stress reliever for both of these public servants. They also enjoy spending time with their family. They make getting together for dinner once or twice a month with their loved ones a top priority as well.

Deputy Wyatt has dedicated the past eleven years of her life working for, serving and protecting the residents of Hendry County. Her commitment to the Law Enforcement profession isn’t going unnoticed. The community is fortunate to have someone with such passion and compassion working for the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office.

With the ongoing news coverage of police shootings in this nation and the negative attitude toward the police nationwide, the staff of the Caloosa Belle has decided to show our support to the men and women of the Hendry County Sheriff’s Department who protect us every day. In the following weeks we will be introducing you to them and letting you know what they do to keep you safe every day.

Submitted photo/Nicki Hunt