Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Jeffrey Kocab and Officer David Curtis were shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest during a traffic stop at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 50th Street.
Officer Curtis stopped a vehicle because it did not have a visible license plate. He called for an additional unit to assist him because a male passenger in the car was wanted on a misdemeanor charge for writing a worthless check. When Officer Kocab arrived, he and Officer Curtis attempted to arrest the suspect. The suspect drew a weapon and shot both officers at close range.
A witness called 911 to report the shooting. Officer Kocab died shortly after arriving at the hospital, and Officer Curtis was pronounced dead a few hours later.
The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody four days later. The suspect was charged with five counts of first-degree murder when it was determined he had committed three other murders in Tampa. On November 15th, 2013, the subject was convicted of murdering both officers, and the jury subsequently recommended he receive the death penalty. He was formally sentenced to death on May 30th, 2014.
Officer Kocab served with the Tampa Police Department for 14 months and had previously served with the Plant City Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his expectant wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-8A0215ED- 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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Jeffrey is one person.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Officer Kocab gave the Tampa Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Kocab.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jeffrey Alan Kocab served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2000â2000) before joining law enforcement.
Officer Jeffrey Alan Kocab is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Tampa Police Department, 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeffrey Alan Kocab's cause is highlighted.
How Jeffrey Alan Kocab Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeffrey Alan Kocab is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeffrey Alan Kocab was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Military Service
Jeffrey Alan Kocab served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2000–2000) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Jeffrey Alan Kocab’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from Tampa Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
