About Us

The Tampa Police Memorial Fund Committee, Inc. is a Florida non-profit corporation formed on 08/01/96.

In 1994 a group of officers met together to discuss the need for a monument to recognize our fallen officers.  In addition, the inaugural Tampa Police Memorial Run was held in October of 1995.  The current Memorial Room consisted of 8 x 10 photographs of each fallen officer with a small name tag along with information on their sacrifice.  The Memorial Room was located in the old line up room, which now was serving as the roll call room for the Detective Division.

The photographs were upgraded to larger frames and moved to the old Traffic Court Room located on the first floor at 1710 Tampa Street.  The Court Room became the new Memorial Room.  In addition, several display cabinets were brought in and Tampa Police historical items were placed on display.  Officers donated items to the new Tampa Police Museum.

The Tampa Police Memorial Committee began having meetings to discuss and formulate a plan to obtain a lasting monument to honor our fallen officers.  The Committee invited several local area artists to create a monument that would be representative of our fallen officers.  The Committee began to develop methods to pay for this project.

Squad donations were accepted and the Committee elected to have a 5K run/walk to raise funds to help pay for the project.  The Gasparilla Distance Association came in to assist the Committee in planning the run/walk.

The three local artists presented models of their creations for a fallen officer monument along with a verbal explanation of the meaning of each entry.  The Committee elected to have each model placed on display in the Memorial Room and have the officers vote as to which entry should be chosen to be the Tampa Police Memorial.

The employees selected a monument created by Tampa Artist Ms. J. J. Watts.  Her model was the cut out silhouette of a uniformed police officer meaning the officer was missing from his department, friends and family.  On a small table in front of the silhouette were the tools of the trade; police hat, handcuffs, gun belt, police baton, radio, and a Glock pistol.  The Tampa Police Morning Badge was on the front.  The names of the fallen officers were placed on the side panels.  A poem titled “The Monument” by retired L.A.P.D. Sergeant George Hahn.

The first Tampa Police Memorial Run was held on October  10, 1998 with over 1,100 runners and walkers.  The run/walk was held in conjunction with the Taste of Tampa, an event sponsored by the Tampa Tribune.  The Committee obtained several sponsors that provided valuable funding for the start of this event.

In addition, the community, business, foundations and employees all contributed to the Memorial Project.  The Memorial Fund collected nearly $30,000.00 and needed an additional $20,000.00 to complete the project.  Mr. and Mrs. John Sykes came forward and provided the additional funds to complete this honorable project.

In 1997, the Tampa Police Department was moved from 1710 Tampa Street to its new building at 411 North Franklin Street.  The site for the memorial was selected to be placed at the front entrance to the new police headquarters.

On December 1, 1997, the Tampa Police Memorial was officially dedicated to the community by Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and Tampa Police Chief Bennie Holder.

The Tampa Police Memorial Committee dedicated many hours to the Memorial Project.  As a result, in addition to the Tampa Police Memorial, the Tampa Police Museum was created to provide the community with the history of the Tampa Police Department.  The old Memorial Room was also relocated to the Police Museum along with photographs of our fallen officers.

The Memorial Committee continues to have an annual Memorial Run/Walk and the funds raised are applied to the Police Monument maintenance, Police Museum, an Employees’ Scholarship Program, Tampa Police Honor Guard, Tampa Police Explorers, Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), and the Police Unity Tour.

The Tampa Police Memorial Committee efforts have provided a lasting monument to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Tampa.  The Tampa Police Memorial has become a place for fellow officers, other law enforcement agencies, family members, and the community to visit and reflect on the honor and respect the sacrifice those engraved on the monument have made.

Not only during the mourning of a fallen officer, but each year the Memorial Committee holds a Memorial Ceremony during National Police Officers’ Memorial Week in May.