On this date, June 29, 2010, Officer David Lamar Curtis and Jeffrey Alan Kocab of Tampa Police Department, Florida, were both killed in the line of duty. Let us honor these two fallen cops and thank God that some justice was served, as the cop killer had been sentenced to death. I got the information about them from ODMP and please go to the Unit 1012 Blog to hear from their loved ones.
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Officers David Curtis, left, and Jeffrey Kocab [PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.officer.com/news/11336399/widow-of-tampa-officer-forgives-cop-killer-asks-for-death-penalty] |
INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20442-officer-david-lamar-curtis
Officer
David Lamar Curtis
Tampa Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Bio & Incident Details
Age:31
Tour:3 years, 8 months
Badge #Not available
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:6/29/2010
Weapon:Gun; Unknown type
Suspect:Sentenced to death
INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.odmp.org/officer/20441-officer-jeffrey-alan-kocab
Officer
Jeffrey Alan Kocab
Tampa Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Bio & Incident Details
Age:31
Tour:1 year, 2 months
Badge #Not available
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:6/29/2010
Weapon:Gun; Unknown type
Suspect:Sentenced to death
Officer David Curtis and Police Officer Jeffrey Kocab were shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest at a traffic stop at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 50th Street.
Officer Curtis stopped a vehicle because it did not have a visible license plate. He called for an additional unit to assist him because a male passenger in the car was wanted on a misdemeanor charge for writing a worthless check. When Officer Kocab arrived, he and Officer Curtis attempted to arrest the suspect. The suspect drew a weapon and shot both officers at close range.
A witness called 911 to report the shooting. Officer Kocab died shortly after arriving at the hospital and Officer Curtis was pronounced dead a few hours later.
The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody four days later. He was charged with five counts of first degree murder when it was determined he had committed three other murders in Tampa. On November 15th, 2013, he was convicted of murdering both officers and the jury subsequently recommended he receive the death penalty. He was formally sentenced to death on May 30th, 2014.
Officer Curtis had served with the Tampa Police Department for three years and eight months and had previously served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife and four young sons.
Officer Kocab served with the Tampa Police Department for 14 months and had previously served with the Plant City Police Department. He is survived by his expectant wife and is buried in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa, Florida.