Early Saturday morning, a Tampa Police Officer in his late 30s was injured after checking on the report of a person sleeping near railroad tracks on Busch Boulevard near 15th Street. The officer was returning to his vehicle when it was struck by a black Ford F150. The crash caused the officer to be dragged approximately 75 feet as he held onto the front of his police car.
The officer was transported to a nearby hospital with serious, but thankfully non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford, who was not injured, remained on-scene, cooperating with the investigation.
"The dangers inherent to the job of public servants are all too real," said Chief Bercaw who is currently at the hospital, checking on the injured officer. "I am thankful that this officer will recover from what could have been a fatal event, and return to protect and serve our community another day. The Tampa Police Department will provide all the support he and his family may need throughout his recuperation process."
Updates on the officer's condition, as well as the investigation, may be provided as they become available. The department would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and concerns during the officer's recovery.