Police Chief Lee Bercaw to retire Aug. 6 after 30 years
Chief Bercaw caps a 30-year run, and the next mayor will pick his permanent replacement.
Police Chief Lee Bercaw to retire Aug. 6 after 30 years
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw will retire Aug. 6, telling reporters at Tampa Police Department headquarters that walking away was the hardest decision of his career.
By the numbers: Bercaw spent 30 years at TPD. After he leaves, he plans to teach criminal justice classes related to leadership at the University of South Florida, carrying three decades of department experience into the classroom.
Zoom in: Mayor Jane Castor said her successor should choose the next permanent police chief, since she is term-limited and Tampa's next municipal election isn't until March 2027. That timing means the department will run under an acting chief for the better part of a year, and it hands the next mayor an early and consequential decision about who leads the city's police force. Assistant Chief Brett Owen will serve as acting chief in the interim.
Backstory: The retirement comes after Bercaw recently oversaw the firing of Assistant Chief Ruth Cate. His Aug. 6 exit closes out a long Tampa Police run and opens a leadership question that won't be fully settled until after the 2027 vote.
Tampa hit-and-run reclassified as a homicide
Tampa police reclassified a fatal hit-and-run investigation as a homicide, according to a City of Tampa notice. The city says a security guard in his mid-30s was walking toward his car with a friend when the attack happened. Zamora Valdes fled the scene before police located and impounded the vehicle. The shift from a traffic-related death to a homicide investigation changes how the case is handled, though the city's account remains brief.
Juneteenth flag raising set for June 12 at Hanna Avenue
Tampa's Annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony and Wellness Fair runs June 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at City Center at Hanna Avenue, 2555 E. Hanna Avenue. Benjamin Haith, who designed the national Juneteenth flag in 1997, is scheduled to appear and serve as guest speaker. District 5 City Councilwoman Naya Young will join the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition to raise the flag.
The program also lists Blake High School ROTC, Ms. Juneteenth and Little Ms. Juneteenth, members of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition, and the Buffalo Soldiers. At the wellness fair, attendees can connect with partners including Tampa CERT, the Tampa Office of Human Rights, and the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, making the evening both a commemoration and a community-resource stop.
Tampa's 2026 Hurricane Guidebook is live
The City of Tampa is promoting its 2026 Tampa Hurricane Guidebook on the city homepage. The guidebook gathers storm-prep tips, checklists, evacuation information, and other readiness guidance for residents heading into hurricane season, putting the city's planning resources in one place ahead of any storms.
Nordstrom Rack coming to Plaza at Citrus Park
Nordstrom Rack is opening at the Plaza at Citrus Park, 12675 Citrus Plaza Drive, one of several new retailers planned for the center near Citrus Park Drive and the Veterans Expressway. The plaza already includes Burlington, Old Navy, Five Below, Ethan Allen, Olive Garden, and LongHorn Steakhouse, and has lost tenants in recent years including Joann Fabrics, Party City, Honey Baked Ham Co., and Sports Authority. Rack is expected to join other planned arrivals including HomeGoods and Total Wine & More, adding to a tenant mix the center has been rebuilding.
Mysteries of the Nile opening night at Tampa Museum of Art
Mysteries of the Nile: Ancient Egypt Opening Celebration is set for June 24 at 6 p.m. at the Tampa Museum of Art. The lineup includes performances, light bites, a cash bar, and a curator presentation tied to the exhibition.
Keys in the Park brings dueling pianos downtown
Keys in the Park: A Melodic Duel runs June 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lykes Gaslight Square Park, 400 N. Franklin St. The free dueling-pianos program in the Downtown River Arts neighborhood is in-person and open to the public with no preregistration required. The city invites people to bring blankets, friends, and family for live music, singing along, and an evening in the park.
Central Park Jazz Jam at the Tampa Black History Museum
Central Park Jazz Jam runs June 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave. The free community concert celebrates the musical history of Downtown Tampa's Central Park neighborhood, with local bands and musicians performing plus family-friendly fun from the YMCA. The event is in-person and open to the public with no preregistration required, and attendees are invited to bring a chair and dancing shoes for music in the museum courtyard.