Officer David Lamar Curtis, Tampa Police Department, Florida

Officer David Lamar Curtis

Tampa Police Department, Florida

End of Watch Tuesday, June 29, 2010

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David Lamar Curtis

Officer David Curtis and Police Officer Jeffrey Kocab were shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest at a traffic stop at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 50th Street.

Officer Curtis stopped a vehicle because it did not have a visible license plate. He called for an additional unit to assist him because a male passenger in the car was wanted on a misdemeanor charge for writing a worthless check. When Officer Kocab arrived, he and Officer Curtis attempted to arrest the suspect. The suspect drew a weapon and shot both officers at close range.

A witness called 911 to report the shooting. Officer Kocab died shortly after arriving at the hospital and Officer Curtis was pronounced dead a few hours later.

The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody four days later. He was charged with five counts of first degree murder when it was determined he had committed three other murders in Tampa. On November 15th, 2013, he was convicted of murdering both officers and the jury subsequently recommended he receive the death penalty. He was formally sentenced to death on May 30th, 2014.

Officer Curtis had served with the Tampa Police Department for three years and eight months and had previously served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife, four young sons, parents, and twin sister.

Bio

Age 31
Tour 3 years, 8 months
Badge 459

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Sentenced to death

traffic stop, warrant service

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Most Recent Reflection

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David, three of your four sons are now out on their own. Autumn, Maren, and I took your youngest, now taller than me and you, to your grave in November 2024. You would have been so proud of him. He had the weed eater going, cleaned your headstone, and helped us put up your Christmas trees.
We all went to breakfast. He and Maren shared all their school, sports stories with us. They are great friends as well as cousins. That, alone, makes me and Autumn so happy.

Your second son's girlfriend keeps us updated on him. That is fun. You would like her.

We miss you so very much. 15 years coming up. Sometimes I wonder if you were really here at all, were you real? Grief makes you think strange things. It is really hard to come to this page. I am on Officer Down daily as I send anniversary cards to every survivor in Alabama who has lost an officer. But coming to your page is hard.

I am very active with Alabama Concerns of Police Survivors in your honor. I also serve on the board of Gulf Coast VOCAL (Victims of Crime & Leniency). Again, in your honor. I am trying to understand the court process for victims and their loved one's killer. I want to be there for victims, during the court process. Autumn and I felt so alone during that time, and I don't want others to feel abandoned and alone while facing a murderer in court or in hearings of any kind.

I laugh and tell people I deal with death on a daily basis, and I do, in the two organizations I work with. Laughing helps.

Oh, and your Aunt Christy was murdered also. Autumn, Aunt Jean, and I flew out to Idaho to deal with that horror. She was the victim of a murder suicide. She wasn't found for 3 days. I hope you and Aunt Christy are meeting up.

Missing you. Love, Mom

Cindy Hatcher
Mother, Secretary AL C.O.P.S.

March 24, 2025