Incident
Officer Porfirio Soto was shot and killed as he and another officer served an arrest warrant at 3710 E. Idlewild Avenue. The subject was wanted in a neighboring jurisdiction for armed robbery, aggravated battery, and carrying a concealed firearm. A struggle ensued inside of the suspect's home in which Officer Soto was shot in an area not protected by his vest. The man fled the home after shooting Officer Sorto but was arrested a short time later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He hanged himself in prison on April 13th, 1997. Officer Soto was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Tampa Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 10-month-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnbwfcbr4d6n854nn3ca- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Porfirio. Claim this record.
Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Porfirio is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Soto gave the Tampa Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Porfirio J Soto Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1982â1986) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tampa Police Department has lost 29 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Porfirio is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Porfirio is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Porfirio is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1988, 1 officer at Tampa Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 18 years on record. The heaviest was 1975, with 2.
In 1988, 10 officers in FL were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1988, 105 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Porfirio was 26. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Tampa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45.3; the middle age was 37. Porfirio had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Porfirio was 26. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Porfirio had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Porfirio was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Porfirio had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Porfirio was 26. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Porfirio had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 4.8% of these deaths at Tampa Police Department; May holds the most, 14.3%. Fridays: 33.3%.
December holds 9.3% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Fridays: 13.2%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 72.4% of all 29 deaths at Tampa Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 38.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Tampa Police Department has 29 officers remembered here, Porfirio among them.
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John McCormick
Sep 25, 1895
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Samuel J. Carter
Jun 2, 1905
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James Ronco
May 27, 1916
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Henry R. Lett
Sep 24, 1922
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Bryan A. Reese
Aug 29, 1935
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Thomas M. Chevis
Apr 7, 1938
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Joe Nance Oct 1, 1939
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Arthur L. Berry
Jan 31, 1941
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Lester H. Henley
Apr 11, 1941
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Richard S. Booth
Nov 28, 1943
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Morris D. Lopez, Sr.
Jul 9, 1949
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Carl F. Chastain
Feb 12, 1958
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Rolla Leo Standau
Nov 29, 1963
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William D. Krikava
Jan 1, 1965
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Kenneth Darrel Berlin Jr.
Sep 27, 1975
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Richard Lee Cloud
Oct 23, 1975
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Anthony Wayne Williams
Nov 3, 1975
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Gerald Arthur Rauft
Jul 24, 1981
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Gary S. Pricher
Nov 4, 1983
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Porfirio J Soto Jr.
Dec 30, 1988
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Norris B. Epps
Jan 18, 1995
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Ricky Joe Childers
May 19, 1998
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Randy Scott Bell
May 19, 1998
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Lois Marie Marrero
Jul 6, 2001
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Juan A. Serrano
Feb 25, 2006
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Michael Joseph Roberts
Aug 19, 2009
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Jeffrey Alan Kocab
Jun 29, 2010
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David Lamar Curtis
Jun 29, 2010
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Jesse Peter Madsen
Mar 9, 2021
Where
Military Service
Porfirio J Soto Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1982–1986) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Porfirio J Soto Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
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