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Corporal

Michael Joseph Roberts

Tampa Police Dept. — Tampa, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 19, 2009

Age 38

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 158 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Corporal Mike Roberts was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person at the intersection of Nebraska and East Arctic Street in the Sulphur Springs area of the city.

He noticed the man pushing a shopping cart along the roadway and stopped to question him. During the questioning, the man began to struggle with Corporal Roberts. The suspect produced a handgun and struck Corporal Roberts several times before shooting him once the chest. The round struck him in an area not protected by his vest.

Corporal Roberts' sergeant pulled up as the man began to flee. The man then pulled an AR-15 rifle from his shopping basket, pointed it at the sergeant, and then fled on foot. The sergeant then provided aid to Corporal Roberts by calling for backup. Officers from Corporal Roberts' squad performed CPR until the paramedics arrived, and he was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The suspect, a former U.S. Virgin Islands police officer, surrendered a short time later after being located by a canine unit. He was armed with three handguns and a rifle when he was taken into custody. On November 15, 2011, the suspect was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Officer Roberts' murder and was sentenced to death on February 10, 2012. The Florida Supreme Court later reduced the sentence to life without parole.

Corporal Roberts was a United States Army veteran of the Persia Gulf War who had served with the Tampa Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-8FEC9F59
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 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.
Corporal Roberts gave the Tampa Police Department 11 years.
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

Department Tampa Police Dept.

Location Tampa, FL

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 2009

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Michael Joseph Roberts served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Corporal Michael Joseph Roberts 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