Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer David Curtis and Police Officer Jeffrey Kocab were shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest at 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. He 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, he 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 Curtis had served with the Tampa Police Department for three years and eight months and had previously served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four young sons, parents, and twin sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-FD0C8654- 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.
Officer Curtis gave the Tampa Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Curtis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer David Lamar Curtis 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Lamar Curtis's cause is highlighted.
How David Lamar Curtis Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Lamar Curtis is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Lamar Curtis was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from Tampa Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
