Gerald A. Rauft

Tampa Police Dept. — Tampa, FL

Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1981

Age 38

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Detective Gerald Rauft was shot and killed during an undercover operation to purchase 100 pounds of marijuana. The undercover officers were conducting the deal inside a home at 1410 E. 29th Avenue when a shootout erupted and Detective Rauft was fatally wounded. The second officer was seriously wounded. Four suspects were apprehended. The 28-year-old triggerman was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and sent to a mental institution. In 1986 he was deemed competent and was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On May 5th, 2012, he was resentenced to life in prison. He died in prison on May 30th, 2020. Detective Rauft had served with the Tampa Police Department for eight years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-722C6245
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Rauft gave the Tampa Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Rauft.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Tampa Police Dept.

Location Tampa, FL

Platform Identity tpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1981

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Detective Gerald A. Rauft is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Tampa Police Dept., 21 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.4% of this agency's fallen.

Tampa Police Dept.

of 29 officers

72.4% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious