The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted targeted operations throughout Thanksgiving weekend to protect our roads and our neighborhoods.
Beginning November 26, 2025, our DUI Enforcement Squad launched Operation Drinksgiving with partners from the Tampa Police Department, USF Police Department, and Temple Terrace Police Department. This joint effort focused on removing impaired drivers and ensuring safe travel during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
HCSO maintained this heightened enforcement throughout the holiday weekend.
"Every stop represents a decision to prevent a tragedy," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Our deputies didn’t just enforce the law; they protected lives. If you choose to drink and drive, you're risking someone's life. In Hillsborough County, we will stop you before an innocent family pays the price."
HCSO's Results:
- Traffic Stops: 865
- Traffic Citations: 126
- DUI Arrests: 31
- Other Traffic-Related Arrests: 11
As holiday shopping increased, so did the risk for crime. Alongside DUI enforcement, we increased manpower countywide, saturating retail areas, parking lots, and neighborhoods to deter thefts, burglaries, and other crimes of opportunity.
Specialized units, including Aviation and the Bicycle Response Team, strengthened these efforts by identifying suspicious activity and interrupting crime before it occurred.
On November 29, 2025, the Aviation Unit spotted a suspect checking door handles in a Sun City Center neighborhood. Deputies tracked the individual, later identified as Elijah Beauvoir, 15, as he entered an unlocked vehicle. He was taken into custody and charged with Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance and Loitering or Prowling.In total, 119 arrests were made across Hillsborough County over the holiday weekend.
"Criminals count on holiday chaos, but forget we work holidays too," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "When call volumes rise, we rise higher. Our teams are out in force, watching, responding, and acting the moment trouble surfaces."
This is video of Beauvoir's arrest: