Assistant Chief John Bennett

Assistant Chief of Police- Operations

Assistant Chief John Bennett has led the department in crime reduction by cutting the crime rate 34% in District II. He is a progressive commander who embraces the latest technology for fighting crime and improving the City of Tampa. Under his leadership, his team analyzes crime trends, devises daily attack plans and then deploys resources to solve and prevent crime.

Read Assistant Chief Bennett's full biography.

Chief Bennet directs all police patrol operations and the Media Relations Office.

Major Sal Ruggiero

Commander - District One

Major Ruggerio has served the majority of his 27-year career in District I. As a Lieutenant and Captain, Major Ruggerio was very instrumental in the impressive crime reduction achieved every year in District I. Ruggerio spent 15 years in Patrol and seven as a supervisor of the street level drug squad known as QUAD. He also served in the plain-clothes unit called SAC, as a supervisor of the Firehouse Unit and was a member of the Auto Theft Task Force and a Field Training Officer. He also serves on the City of Tampa Human Right's Board.

He is originally from East Providence RI. Sal has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Roger Williams College in Administration of Justice and a Master's Degree in Organizational Management. He and his wife Linda have three children, John, Amanda and Genevieve.  

Major Ruggerio commands District One which includes South Tampa, West Shore & West Tampa. He is responsible for patrol operations as well as specialty operations such as SAC Squads, QUAD Squads, and the district property crime detective squad.

Major John Newman

Commander - District Two

Major Newman began his career in District II working as the Sulphur Springs beat cop 24 years ago. During his career Major Newman has served in Patrol, QUAD, Narcotics, Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Legal and Internal Affairs. He worked five years as an undercover detective in the Narcotics Unit. For the last 20 years, he has been on the Honor Guard as a Bugler and also served six years on the Tactical Response Team.

Newman is from Brick, NJ. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in American Studies. He and his wife Dawn, of 25-years, have two daughters, Ashtin and Rebecca, who attend the University of South Florida.

Major Newman commands District Two which includes North Tampa & Tampa Palms. He is responsible for patrol operations as well as specialty operations such as SAC Squads, QUAD Squads, and the district property crime detective squad.

Major Gerald Honeywell

Commander - District Three

Major Gerald Honeywell has served the department for 25-years in all three districts, Quad, the Internal Affairs Bureau and District One Division Commander before becoming the District Three commander.  Major Honeywell has been actively involved in the redevelopment of East Tampa. He served on the Public Safety Committee for the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership and was a member of the East Tampa Task Force. He is a lifelong Tampa resident, a graduate of Jefferson High School and Tampa College. Major Honeywell served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard before starting his career in law enforcement. He has been married for 16-years to Judge Charlene Honeywell. They have two children.

Major Honeywell commands District Three which includes East Tampa, Ybor City, and downtown Tampa. He is responsible for patrol operations as well as specialty operations such as SAC Squads, QUAD Squads, and the district property crime detective squad.