Two Tampa Police Officers Shot and Killed

[cntryboy0531]

Been a bad week for Law Enforcement in Central Florida. RIP Brothers.

Tampa police officers shot

Two Tampa police officers killed
Chief Castor: "Our hearts are broken"
Updated: Tuesday, 29 Jun 2010, 12:06 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 29 Jun 2010, 4:35 AM EDT

MyFoxTampaBay.com staff report

TAMPA - Two Tampa police officers have died after they were shot during a routine traffic stop early Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened at 50th Street and 34th Avenue at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday. Police have named two persons of interest in the case as they conduct a massive search in the area of the shooting.

Police Chief Jane Castor announced in a morning news conference that Officer Jeff Kocab, 31, had passed away, shortly after he was brought to Tampa General Hospital.

FOX 13 has learned that Officer Dave Curtis, also 31, was put on life support and pronounced dead around 8:30 a.m. at TGH.

<<< Second video: Tampa's police chief and mayor speak of the tragedy.

Mayor Pam Iorio said Officer Jeff Kocab leaves behind a wife who is nine months pregnant. Officer Kocab had only been with Tampa police for 14 months and previously worked for the Plant City Police Department.

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office reported shortly before noon Tuesday that Kocab's wife had gone into labor.

Officer Dave Curtis had been with the department for almost four years. Tampa police say he previously worked as a detention deputy with the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. He has a wife and four boys between the ages of 8 months and 9 years old, the mayor said.

Police told FOX 13 that Curtis' family will be donating his organs.

Chief Castor and Mayor Iorio were very emotional during their brief news conference, held outside TGH just before 6:30 a.m.

"It's a very tragic time for the Tampa Police Department family," the Chief said. " ... We appreciate everyone's prayers and concerns at this time."

The officers' families were at the hospital along with numerous members of the Tampa Police Department.

"It's just a tragedy, there's no other way to describe it," Chief Castor added. "Our hearts are broken."

Mayor Iorio echoed her sentiments and said the families of the fallen officers were very brave.

"They have both said to me how much Dave and Jeff loved being a Tampa police officer," Iorio said. "They both have made a point of that. They both have said, both families, that their loved one loved going to work every day, that they loved being a Tampa police officer, that it was the best job in the world."

Police received a 911 call shortly after 2:15 a.m. from a person driving by the scene, reporting that the officers were shot, Tampa police spokesperson Laura McElroy said.

Police responding to the 911 call immediately began CPR. Officer Kocab was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at TGH, according to McElroy.

Several people stopped and left flowers Tuesday morning at the TPD memorial in downtown Tampa.

"To have two Tampa police officer shot, less than a year after losing Corporal Mike Roberts, is absolutely devastating to our department," McElroy said earlier Tuesday. "We are still grieving the loss of Mike, and to now be at a scene with two Tampa police officers shot, it's really beyond description and all of our energy, all of our resources, all of our efforts right now are to catch these two individuals who have attempted to take the life of two Tampa police officers."

Cpl. Mike Roberts was shot and killed last August when he approached a suspicious man pushing a shopping cart, which turned out to be holding several weapons.

Attorney General Bill McCollum released a statement Tuesday morning, saying his "thoughts and prayers are with the families of Tampa Police Officers Jeff Kocab and Dave Curtis and the entire Tampa Police Department as they grieve the loss of two exceptional public servants just eleven months after the loss of Corporal Mike Roberts, another fine Tampa police officer killed in the line of duty ... "

Tuesday's shooting comes less than a week after two Polk County deputies were shot and injured while questioning a suspect in a Lakeland neighborhood. The suspect, 21-year-old Matthew Tutt, shot at the deputies and was killed by their return fire. Both deputies are recovering from their injuries.

There is a massive search ongoing for two suspects , a man and a woman. Hillsborough deputies are aiding police, as helicopters, K-9 units, and foot crews are in use. The Chief says they believe they know who the male suspect is but have not released a name.

The woman is believed to have been the driver and the male the passenger, who police say was the shooter. Detectives say they are looking for a black male and female; the man is described as about 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing brown shorts, a white tee shirt, black vest and white shoes.

The vehicle is believed to be a 1994 maroon or red Toyota Camry. Officer Curtis stopped the car and called the Officer Kocab for backup. During her news conference, the chief said there appeared to be a minor warrant out for the passenger in the vehicle.

A citizen nearby heard the gunshots and called 911 to report that the two officers were down.

Police have shut down 50th Street from I-4 to Martin Luther King Blvd. Drivers are advised to avoid this area; the northbound

lanes of 50th Street were reopened shortly before 7:30 a.m. but the area will likely be congested for much of the morning

[Cat_Doc]

They are reporting they have the female in custody who was the driver of the car.

Still looking for the shooter.

Massive manhunt for Tampa police shooting suspects

This is tragic, but a reminder to us all that we have to stay on our toes out there.

[PathosLogos]

RIP Officers Kocab and Curtis...my thoughts and prayers go out to their families.

Hope they catch the scum who did it...

[hutchins]

My heart is with their family and department.

[pafindr]

R.I.P. Officer Kocab and Officer Curtis

[cntryboy0531]

Just found out Officer Kocabs wife is in labor now. Very tragic day for them :(

[Cat_Doc]

Just found out Officer Kocabs wife is in labor now. Very tragic day for them :(

And Curtis left behind four young sons. This entire thing is just breaking my heart.

[Trip]

Just found out Officer Kocabs wife is in labor now. Very tragic day for them :(

so very sad

[Trip]

would like to pay my respect

[Reconciler]

Thoughts and prayers going out to the families and the department

[Samsonite]

RIP ...hope we catch those POS. So sorry for the families invloved.

[marinepilot]

Truly a sad day... The MarinePilot family sends out our prayers to the families of Officers Kocab & Curtis.

[Nole795]

Rip

[Cat_Doc]

News is reporting they have the suspect in custody.

Dontae Morris under arrest by the Hills. Co. Sheriff's Office for police shootings

[greg72982]

News is reporting they have the suspect in custody.

Dontae Morris under arrest by the Hills. Co. Sheriff's Office for police shootings

Not really the ending I hoped for.