Porfirio J Soto Jr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

Porfirio J Soto Jr.

Tampa Police Department — Tampa, FL
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 30, 1988
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Gender Male

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.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Type Other
Location Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL
Platform Identity tpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1988
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Porfirio J Soto Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1982–1986) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Porfirio is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Tampa Police Department has 29 officers remembered here, Porfirio among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer Porfirio J Soto Jr.

Tampa Police Department · End of Watch December 30, 1988

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

Also Remembered

salute.nw →

↑