Morris D. Lopez Sr.
Patrolman

Morris D. Lopez Sr.

Tampa Police Department — Tampa, FL
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch July 9, 1949
Age 25
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 85 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Morris Lopez was shot and killed by unknown assailants at 7th Avenue and 16th Street in Ybor City while on foot patrol. Around 9:40 p.m., a vehicle suddenly stopped, and a shot rang out, striking Patrolman Lopez in the chest. Before succumbing to his wounds, he was able to give a description of the vehicle and his attackers. He died at Municipal Hospital. A suspect who had threatened Patrolman Lopez was detained, but no charges were ever filed. The case remains open. Patolman Lopez was a United States Navy veteran had served with the Tampa Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, five brothers, and two sisters. One of his brothers also served in law enforcement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, five brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-88985731
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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Morris 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.
Patrolman Lopez gave the Tampa Police Department 2 years.
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 July 9, 1949
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Morris D. Lopez Sr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Morris D. Lopez Sr. 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 97,759 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.

Tampa Police Department
21
of 29 officers
72.4% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Morris D. Lopez Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Morris D. Lopez Sr. Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Morris D. Lopez Sr. is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Morris D. Lopez Sr. was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Morris D. Lopez Sr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit Morris D. Lopez Sr.’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.