TPD honors fallen officers with 30th annual 5K

TPD 5K for fallen officers

FOX 13's Kylie Jones shares some of the special stories behind this annual event.

TAMPA - The Tampa Police Department paid remembrance to its 32 officers who were killed in the line of duty.

On Saturday morning, TPD held its 30th annual Memorial 5K at Lykes Gaslight Park.

TPD officers, families and retired law enforcement officers came out to run the 5K in memory of those fallen officers.

The Tampa Police Department paid remembrance to its 32 officers who were killed in the line of duty.

32 TPD officers ran with an armband, each with the name of one of those officers.

This event holds special meaning for Officer Ashley Bell.

Her father was a detective with the Tampa Police Department, and was killed in the line of duty when she was a teenager. She followed in his footsteps with a career in law enforcement and now, working at the Tampa Police Department.

"Randy Bell," she said. "He was killed on line of duty May 19, 1998. So, obviously, it means the world to me to come out and actually be a part of the committee, be a part of this event for the third year in a row that I've been out here."

She says it’s an honor to wear her father’s badge number every day.

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Bell says it’s been exciting to watch the event grow every year.

"Just the support from the community is still, and my dad's been gone for 26 years, and still, to see the community come out and support fallen officers that have died in the line of duty means a lot," Bell said.

Chief Lee Bercaw has watched the event grow since nearly the beginning.

"When you see them come across the finish line, the hair stands up on the back of your neck," Bercaw said.

Medals from TPD's 30th annual Memorial 5K at Lykes Gaslight Park.

Bercaw says he’s been a part of the event for 28 years, and has seen the success of it come full circle.

"It helps to support our memorial that we have for our 32 officers," Bercaw said. "It also helps for scholarships for young people that want to become police officers."

The proceeds from the event also go towards improvement to the Tampa Police Memorial Monument.

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"This is community policing at its finest," Bercaw said.

The event was rescheduled from October due to Hurricane Helene.

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