Detective Randy Scott Bell Tampa Police Department Florida Tuesday, May 19, 1998  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

Ten years have gone by and that day still is as clear as if it were yesterday. The loss of you and Ricky will never go away. I smile every time I think of our kids playing in the pool together at the olympics and our times sitting the bench together at the games. Are you still collecting "Beanies"? May you and Ricky never be forgotten !

Ret. Det. John Yaratch
Tampa
2008-05-20

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on this anniversary.

Former N.H. Police Officer

2008-05-19

Det. Bell your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Hands now brother. May you rest in peace.

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee
2008-05-19

Det. Bell I will never forget your heroic service to the citizens of our great city and I think of you and all fallen often. Rest easy... words do little justice to the gratitude I have for all you have done.

Citizen
Tampa
2008-05-18

I knew you as a partner to my father. Someone who would always look over me at the movies on your off-duty job. I always looked up to you and Ricky as uncles. May you rest-in-peace.

Deputy Rick Burton Jr.
HCSO and Friend
2007-11-01

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2007-10-08

Thank you for your bravery, service and sacrifice. You will FOREVER be a hero and will NEVER be forgotten. May God bless and comfort your family and friends.

DET SGT, Retired
AR
2007-09-20

Randy, you are so missed--you would be so proud of the girls. It breaks my heart that you were not here to watch them grow from 2 cute baby girls into 2 absolutely beautiful young women. They miss you so much. May you always know that you are in their hearts and thoughts.

Carolyn

Carolyn Bell
Ex-wife and mother to Ashley and Kacey Bell
2007-08-15

It is customary that the probationary employees are in the Roll Call Room before the veteranos. Today, as they waited, In Your Memory, I showed them the videotape regarding that tragic day back in 1998. Not a single officer had ever seen/heard of the videotape.

Every cop (especially detention/jail personnel), should be required to see how an arrestee had a handcuff key hidden around his neck...

Your Memory lives on. May You Rest-In-Peace.

Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD
2007-07-24

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Detective Bell on the anniversary of his passing. Heros are never forgotten. Rest in peace.

The memory of a good friend is a blessing Proverb 10:7

911 Dispatcher
Virginia
2007-05-19

I was in the academy when this happened and remember this incident quite well unfortunately. As is the case with any tragic loss in our law enforcement family, we used it as a training source to help us stay alive out there always. This was a devastating loss, as is every "In the line of duty death," and these three officers will never be forgotten for being the true heroes they are. Rest in peace always.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
2007-05-19

I saw the story about you and your fellow officers on TV. It upset me to find that the mans wife knew he had a handcuff key with him at all times and also gave false information as to his real name. All this led up to the killing of 3 officers that could have been prevented if she had said something. In the end he showed his true colors and committed suicide like a coward. He will be forgotten and your memory will live on through your family and friends

leo wife
2007-01-31

Rest in peace Brother. May God Bless you and your family.

Patrolman

2006-08-01

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

2006-03-07

I'm fairly sure that Detective Bell assisted in a training class I took in 1996 for FDLE certification in .38/.357 revolver, when I was a probation and parole officer with the Department of Corrections. I am not a natural revolver shooter, in the military I had learned on the M1911A1 automatic, and I was trying to master a rather large and unfamiliar personal revolver, a Colt Python. I wasn't doing real well. I remember him--or if it wasn't him, his identical twin that works for TPD--very kindly stepping over to me, calming me down, and helping me get it together so I could get the practice course down. I'm grateful.

Work in the field office I was in back in 1998 just stopped when the Hank Carr matter hit the radio. We clustered around the radio in my office and listened to it going on, horrified. When I saw his picture on the news the night he died, I was angry. I had friends in TPD at the time who were so affected by his loss. Not long after, I was accepted into law school; I went because I wanted to be a prosecutor. In part because of what happened to Det. Bell and Det. Childers, I still take special satisfaction in successfully prosecuting crimes against law enforcement officers.

Asst. State Attorney Victoria J. Avalon
State Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit-Florida
2006-02-03

We love you and you are forever in our thoughts.. Until we meet again big brother you are the wind beneath our wings!!!

Jennifer Neal
Sister
2005-11-04

You will always remain in our Hearts!

Barry and Marilyn Bell
Uncle and Aunt
2005-04-10

I first met you when we traded places in SAC, you were headed back to the streets and I wanted undercover work. You were a tough act to follow my friend as you were a great UC cop. I still remember the day I gave you my assigned vehicle, and I became 745. You're missed my friend.....t

TPK
Former Tampa PD
2005-03-04

Your 'case' is now on television in the netherlands, at national geographic. I'm touched by the thing that happened to you, so i really needed to say you are a true hero. Rest in peace!

Paul van den Assum
The Netherlands
2005-02-06

"In valor there is hope." - Tacitus

Randy,
You're not forgotten ...
May 19, 2004

2004-05-19

I remember in college watching a video of the tragic day in Tampa that two outstanding officers were killed and a young trooper that never had the chance, none the less the three of you are heros which was easily expressed at your funerals.

My father was a police sargeant for 19yrs and died of cancer on May 19, 1995. May 19 will always be a day to not only think of my father, but that of the other officers that died doing something they loved sooo much, putting the bad guys behind bars. Please watch over us here on these streets fighting the good fight. Rest easy brothers!!!!!!!! We love you




Donald K Bond (EOW) 9-6-2001
Julie R Jacks (EOW) 5-6-2002

Officer Curtis Penney
Chattanooga Police Department

Rest in peace. You served us well.

Inv. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

YOU WILL FOREVER REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS MY BROTHER IN BLUE. R.I.P.

CAPT. T. COHEE
MOON LAKE VOL. FIRE/RESCUE

Three officers down
put your knee to the ground.
Three officers down
while we worked safe and sound.
Three officers down
no one makes a sound.
Three officers down
three families tears soak the ground.
Three officers down
put your knee down
In a final salute to the heros'.
Three officers down
may they sleep safe and sound
as their bodies are given now
to this hallowed ground.
Their spirits comfort now
the youngest victim of a grieving town.

Kevin McGregor
Hudson, FL