Tampa Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Tuesday, May 19, 1998
Add to My HeroesRandy Scott Bell
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 agency for 21 years. He is survived by his wife and five children.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour 21 years
- Badge 122
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Committed suicide
Most Recent Reflection
View all 46 ReflectionsNever to be forgotten.
Retired First Sergeant Thomas Webb
New York State Police - Troop "D"
January 1, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths

Officer Carlos Mendoza
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: February 24, 2021

Lieutenant Justin Bedwell
Decatur County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: March 1, 2021

Officer Cesar Dangaran Sibonga
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: February 7, 2021

Major Estaban "Stevie" Ramirez, III
Bell County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: February 16, 2021

Reserve Deputy Constable Martinus Mitchum
Second City Court of New Orleans Constable's Office, LA
EOW: February 26, 2021

Police Officer Dominic J. Winum
Stanley Police Department, VA
EOW: February 26, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Thomas Albanese
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: February 25, 2021

Corrections Officer IV Vicky James
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: February 10, 2021

Corrections Officer IV Tawiwo Obele
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: February 16, 2021