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Incident
Detective Randy Bell and Detective Ricky Childers were shot and killed transporting a suspect to the police station for questioning. The suspect had earlier shot his girlfriend's 3-year-old child in the face with a rifle and took the child to a fire station. As Detective Bell and Detective Childers were transporting the suspect, he was able to free one of his hands from the handcuffs using a hidden key as the car approached I-275 on Floribraska Avenue. He then reached into the front seat and gained control of one of the detectives' weapons. He shot and killed the driver as he sat in the front seat and the passenger as he was climbing over the back seat in an attempt to get the gun from the suspect. The suspect then obtained his rifle from the trunk of the car and car-jacked another vehicle. He led police on a chase in which he shot and killed Florida State Trooper James B. Crooks. The suspect committed suicide after a standoff at a local gas station. Detective Bell had served with the Tampa Police Department for 21 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Bell gave the Tampa Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Bell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tampa Police Department has lost 29 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Randy is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Randy is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Randy is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 2 officers at Tampa Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1998, 6 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Randy was 44. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Tampa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45.3; the middle age was 37. Randy had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
Randy was 44. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Randy had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Randy was 44. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Randy had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Randy was 44. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Randy had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 14.3% of these deaths at Tampa Police Department, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 23.8%.
May holds 9% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Tuesdays: 14.9%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 72.4% of all 29 deaths at Tampa Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 10.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Tampa Police Department has 29 officers remembered here, Randy among them.
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John McCormick
Sep 25, 1895
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Samuel J. Carter
Jun 2, 1905
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James Ronco
May 27, 1916
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Henry R. Lett
Sep 24, 1922
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Bryan A. Reese
Aug 29, 1935
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Thomas M. Chevis
Apr 7, 1938
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Joe Nance Oct 1, 1939
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Arthur L. Berry
Jan 31, 1941
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Lester H. Henley
Apr 11, 1941
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Richard S. Booth
Nov 28, 1943
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Morris D. Lopez, Sr.
Jul 9, 1949
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Carl F. Chastain
Feb 12, 1958
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Rolla Leo Standau
Nov 29, 1963
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William D. Krikava
Jan 1, 1965
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Kenneth Darrel Berlin Jr.
Sep 27, 1975
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Richard Lee Cloud
Oct 23, 1975
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Anthony Wayne Williams
Nov 3, 1975
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Gerald Arthur Rauft
Jul 24, 1981
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Gary S. Pricher
Nov 4, 1983
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Porfirio J Soto Jr.
Dec 30, 1988
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Norris B. Epps
Jan 18, 1995
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Ricky Joe Childers
May 19, 1998
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Randy Scott Bell
May 19, 1998
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Lois Marie Marrero
Jul 6, 2001
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Juan A. Serrano
Feb 25, 2006
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Michael Joseph Roberts
Aug 19, 2009
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Jeffrey Alan Kocab
Jun 29, 2010
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David Lamar Curtis
Jun 29, 2010
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Jesse Peter Madsen
Mar 9, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from Tampa Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
