A fast-rising officer will be the next Tampa Police chief.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn named assistant chief Eric Ward as Jane Castor’s successor. Castor retires next week after 31 years with the department. According to the mayor, it is time to turn the page at TPD to a younger generation that is trained to take over.
Ward is a 26-year veteran of the department. He grew up in public housing on the city’s east side. He said he knows about the mistrust of law enforcement in that community and that is why community outreach will be a priority for him.
The incoming chief was fast tracked to the top. Three years ago Ward was a lieutenant. Then he was promoted to captain. Last year he was promoted to assistant chief, skipping over the rank of major.
Ward’s served as the department’s specialty teams’ commander, overseeing K-9, air service, the bomb squad and more. Now he plans to address the growing problem of violent teen crime.
“It’s truly an honor to lead one of the best agencies in the nation,” Ward told a large crowd at police headquarters.
Ward said he wants more training for police officers and wants parents to get involved in making Tampa a safer community.
“We have to work as a community to bring in our business partners, law enforcement, as well as parents all together to come to a resolution, to come to a solution to this issue,” Ward said.
“He is a cop’s cop in his own quiet determined fashion,” Mayor Buckhorn told the crowd. Buckhorn said the department will stand behind Ward.
The new faces a justice department review over reports that more than 70 percent of the tickets issued to bicycle riders by TPD are black. TPD is also wrestling with a sharp rise in shootings.
“The police department can’t do it alone. It’s going to take assistance of the community and our chief stake holders,” Ward added.
Ward claims the city has task forces made up of patrol officers, narcotics specialists, members of TPD’s gang unit, the gun unit, as well as undercover police placed in each of the city’s districts.
“These elements will not only focus on the violent crime issues but try and get to the root of the issue. Find out why we have so many kids that are younger getting involved in violent crimes,” he said.
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