Fallen Heroes Foundation

Fallen Officers Curtis & Kocab

Officer David CurtisOfficer David Curtis

Patrol Officer Jeffrey Kocab Officer Jeffrey
Kocab
PRECINCT PIZZA Mourns the loss of Patrol Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab
31 year old David Curtis had three years and eight
months of service to the Tampa Police Department.
He is married with four sons between the ages of
eight months and nine years. He served with the
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as a jail deputy
prior to becoming a Tampa Police Officer. Officer
Curtis is known as a family man, devoted to his
wife and four sons. His sons are 8-month Hunter,
5 year old Tyler, 6 year old Sean and 9 year
old Austin. He was an outstanding Tampa Police
Officer who served on the plain clothes Rapid
Offender Control Squad known as ROC prior
to his current assignment in District Three.
31 year old Jeffrey Kocab had nearly 14 months
as a Tampa Police Officer. He is married and his
wife is nine months pregnant. He served with
the Plant City Police Department prior to being
hired by Tampa Police. Officer Kocab moved
through TPD’s training program at an accelerated
pace because of his outstanding police skills. He was
anticipating the birth of his first child next week.
June 29, 2010 at 2:15 a.m., Officer David Curtis
attempted to pull over a vehicle at Martin Luther
King Jr. Blvd and 50th Street. The car had no
license plate. The vehicle eventually pulled over
at 50th Street and 23rd Avenue. Officer Curtis
determined the passenger was wanted on a
worthless check warrant out of Jacksonville.
He called for backup and Officer Jeffrey Kocab
arrived. Together they approached the suspect’s
vehicle on the passenger side.
The next communication came from a citizen calling
911 to report two officers were shot. The first
responding officers found Officer Curtis and
Officer Kocab on the ground and immediately
began CPR. Paramedics transported both
officers to Tampa General Hospital. Officer
Kocab was pronounced dead shortly after
arrival to the hospital. Doctors put Officer
Curtis on life support. He was pronounced
dead later in the morning.
At the time of the shooting, both officers were
assigned to uniform patrol squad 306.
Precinct Pizza will match donations made
through our store up to a $500.00 per month.
We have a condolence box at our counter in our
store, or you can send your gift to :
Make Checks Payable To:
Curtis/Kocab Memorial Fund
The Tampa Police Memorial Committee
P.O. Box 172995
Tampa, FL 33672
Precinct Pizza feels the
pain that many have felt through the Tampa
Bay area. These Officers were not just symbols
of Heroism, but they were our customers, &
friends as well. Many Police Officers dine at
Precinct Pizza, & we have come to know
many of them well.

Fallen Officer -
Corporal Michael Roberts

Corporal Mike Roberts TPD Memorial Badge
Precinct Pizza Mourns the Loss
of Corporal Michael Roberts
Killed in the Line of Duty
Eulogy Delivered by Chief Hogue
On August 19, 2009 at 9:58p.m. Corporal Michael Roberts
was patrolling on Nebraska Avenue in a neighborhood that
recently experienced several burglaries. He observed a
suspicious person pushing a shopping cart full of items and
initiated a stop. The suspect began struggling with the
Corporal who attempted to use his taser. The suspect ran
across Nebraska Avenue at East Arctic Street and the officer
chased him on foot. They began fighting again on the west
side of Nebraska Avenue when the suspect pulled out a gun
and began pistol whipping the officer. He then fired one shot.
The bullet hit Corporal Roberts on the right side of his chest
area that was not covered by his bulletproof vest. Witnesses
observed the suspect run back to the shopping cart and
remove a large canvas bag.
At 10:03p.m. Corporal Roberts’ Sergeant pulled up and
observed the suspect running from the scene. The suspect
then pulled out an AR-15 assault rifle from a canvas bag and
pointed it at the Sergeant. The suspect then took off running
and the Sergeant ran to help Mike. Corporal Roberts was
transported to Tampa General Hospital where he was
pronounced dead at 10:50p.m.
A K-9 officer tracked the suspect to 812 Yukon Street where
he surrendered to police. Two witnesses saw the suspect pistol
whip and shoot Corporal Roberts. The suspect was charged
with 1st Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer,
Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer (pointed
rifle at Sergeant), Carrying a Concealed Firearm
38-year-old Corporal Michael Roberts will be remembered as
an outstanding officer, husband, father and member of the
TPD family. He began his career with the Tampa Police
Department in 1998. He served in Patrol until 2005 when
he became a K-9 Officer. He served one year as a Field
Training Officer and was promoted to the rank of Corporal on
July 12th, 2009. Roberts was honored with a Life Saving
Award in 2005. During his 11-year career, he was awarded
dozens of Letters of Appreciation from citizens, supervisors
and other law enforcement agencies. He served with the U.S.
Air Force and the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son. He was a
dedicated family man. Mike was known for his sense of
humor and practical jokes that could make anyone smile. He
was an avid sports fan and played goalie on a TPD Hockey
Team.
Precinct Pizza will match all donations made through our
store up to a $500.00 per month. We have a condolence
box at our counter in our store, or you can send your gift to:
Make Checks Payable To:
Corporal Mike Roberts Memorial Fund

The Tampa Police Memorial Committee
P.O. Box 172995
Tampa, FL 33672
Our payments to the Fallen Heroes fund
will be made monthly. Precinct Pizza feels the pain that
many have felt through the Tampa Bay area. This Officer
was not just a symbol of Heroism, but he was our
customer, & friend as well. Many Police Officers dine
at Precinct Pizza, & we have come to know many of them
well.
Thank You, and thanks to all those who protect and serve
us. Always stop and thank Police, Fire, Emergency Medical
Services, & Military personnel for what they do.

Fallen Officer -
Deputy Mark Longway

“This uniform is just a different color. I’m still serving.
First it was my country, now it is my county.”
Deputy Mark Longway, Air Force veteran and recipient of an
Integrity Grant scholarship.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office grievesat the loss of one of their own. . .Deputy Mark A. Longway died on September 21, 2010in a traffic crash while driving his patrol car. Deputy

Longway was assigned to the Homeland Security
Division/Port Security at Channelside.
Deputy Longway, 48, joined the Sheriff’s Office in
July 2004. He served in the Patrol Division before
being reassigned earlier this year to the Port Security detail.
Deputy Longway was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Air
Force, having earned numerous medals and accolades
during his military service. He served our nation for
21 years. Mark decided to become a deputy after hearing
about a hiring initiative while at MacDill Air Force Base.
He knew he wanted to continue serving his fellow citizens.
Mark was selected to be one of HCSO’s first recipients of the
Integrity Grant scholarship. The “Could You Answer
The Call?” program utilized federal grant money to
target outstanding deputy cadets and offer them a
monthly stipend and tuition for our law enforcement
academy. Mark fit the bill perfectly.
As Mark once noted:
“This [deputy’s] uniform is just a different color. I’m still
serving. First it was my country, now it is my county.’’
Wonderful words from one of our heroes.
Deputy Longway was an outstanding law enforcement officer.
Among his accomplishments: he once helped save a suicidal
man from jumping off the roof of a business. In another instance,
Deputy Longway’s compassion and professional manner
was noted by a citizen in a survey. The citizen gave him a rating
of “excellent’’ in every category, an accomplishment few deputies
achieved. That distinction earned him an HCSO commendation
for making a lasting impression on a citizen.
Deputy Longway leaves behind a wife, two daughters, and
three grandchildren.
Deputy Longway, thank you for your service to our nation
and to our county. We are proud to have called you a friend
and colleague.
Deputy Longway often worked in Channelside. Precinct
Pizza knew Deputy Longway well, and our thoughts and
prayers go out to Laura, Sherri, Brandi, and the whole
Longway family.
Precinct Pizza will match all donations made through our
store up to a $500.00 per month. We have a condolence
box at our counter in our store, or you can send your gift to:
Make Checks Payable To:
Deputy Mark Longway Memorial Fund

c/o Lynn Sowers Foundation
P.O. Box 3771
Tampa, FL 33601
Our payments to the Fallen Heroes fund
will be made monthly. Precinct Pizza feels the pain that
many have felt through the Tampa Bay area. This Officer
was not just a symbol of Heroism, but he was our
customer, & friend as well. Many Police Officers dine
at Precinct Pizza, & we have come to know many of them
well.

FDNY AMBULANCE ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Our fund began on July 10,2010. Through April 3rd, 2012, Precinct
Pizza has raised $2,105.00 for the Fallen Heroes Foundation.

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