Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff David Abella was killed in an automobile collision on 50th Street, near Causeway Boulevard while responding to a trespassing call at a local convenience store.
He was attempting to pass a slow-moving tractor-trailer when he lost control of his patrol car and struck a utility pole. The deputy was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Abella was a United States Coast Guard Persian Gulf veteran and had served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-5E3846FE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. David 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.
Deputy Sheriff Abella gave the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Thank you 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
David Anthony Abella served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1995â1999) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff David Anthony Abella is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 15 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Anthony Abella's cause is highlighted.
How David Anthony Abella Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David Anthony Abella is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Military Service
David Anthony Abella served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1995–1999) before joining law enforcement.
Visit David Anthony Abella’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
