Incident
Officer Norris Epps was killed when the McDonnell Douglas 500E police helicopter he was in crashed into Tampa Bay, near the Howard Frankland Bridge, as he and the pilot searched for a man whose boat had capsized. Officer Epps' body was recovered from the bay eight days later. His partner survived the crash with injuries to his lower extremities.
Survivors
Officer Epps is survived by his wife who served as a dispatcher for the Tampa Police Department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Epps served with the Tampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Epps.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tampa Police Department has lost 29 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Norris is one of 314 officers lost to accidents in FL, 31.2% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Norris is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Norris is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1995, 1 officer at Tampa Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1995, 8 officers in FL were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 9.
In 1995, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1995, 81 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Norris was 30. Of the 8 lost to accidents at Tampa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.3 and 34.3; the middle age was 30.
Norris was 30. Of the 293 lost to accidents in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 35.
Norris was 30. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Norris was 30. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
January holds 25% of these deaths at Tampa Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 25%.
January holds 7.6% of these deaths in FL; February holds the most, 10.5%. Wednesdays: 14.3%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 27.6% of all 29 deaths at Tampa Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.2% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Tampa Police Department has 29 officers remembered here, Norris 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 6-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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