Tampa Republic

Chief Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police Department released a community debrief addressing the issue of gun violence involving young members of the Tampa community. Chief Bercaw expressed deep concern about the dangers posed by juvenile-related gun crimes, highlighting the higher risk of injury or death for those involved with firearms.

In the debrief, Chief Bercaw emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents from happening in the first place, stating, "Reducing access to guns from those who should not have them is a focus of our PROJECT: Locked & Unloaded program." He also mentioned the significant number of guns recovered from the streets and the alarming statistics of guns stolen from unlocked vehicles in 2023.

The Tampa Police Department's efforts extend beyond law enforcement to building relationships with community members and fostering positive connections with young people through various educational and mentorship programs. Chief Bercaw outlined several initiatives aimed at engaging youth, such as the School Resource Officer program, Bigs in Blue, and the Police Athletic League (PAL), among others.

Chief Bercaw called on the community to work together to reduce and prevent gun crimes, urging parents, guardians, and mentors to secure firearms safely and have open conversations with children about the dangers of guns. He stressed the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the police to prevent violence from escalating.

In closing, Chief Bercaw reiterated, "The safety of our community is our top priority." He emphasized the collective responsibility of law enforcement, parents, educators, social service providers, and all community members to create a safer environment for youth in Tampa.

The Tampa Police Department provided links to the Community Debrief addressing the mass casualty incident on October 29, 2023, as well as the Chief's address to the community. The PDF version of the open letter is also attached to the release for further information.

For more details and to access the Community Debrief and Chief's address, visit the following links:

- Community Debrief: [link]

- Chief's address: [link]

For inquiries or general questions, the Tampa Police Department can be contacted at 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, Florida 33602, or by phone at (813) 274-8211.