Tampa Police Department (TPD) Corporal Mike Roberts was killed in the line of duty 08/19/09 while investigating a suspicious person News Story. I worked at TPD during the same time Corporal Roberts did prior to my retirement in 04/2002. Although, I do not recall ever meeting Corporal Roberts. I wish I would have had the honor of meeting him because he was a damn good cop. Corporal Roberts was with TPD for 11 years. During that time he racked up numerous commendations, one of those commendations was for saving a little girls life. Corporal Roberts was only recently promoted to the rank of corporal in 07/2009. Corporal Mike Roberts died while doing his job, the job he loved, the job he was naturally good at.
As the citizens of Tampa slept on 08/19/09 Corporal Roberts confronted a dangerous heavily armed individual pushing a shopping cart down a busy street filled with high powered weapons. The scenario of a man pushing a shopping cart filled with dangerous weapons down a busy city street seems to be more like a Hollywood movie rather than real life. In this case the threat was real and what happened could not be scripted by even the best Hollywood writers. Corporal Roberts attempted to determine what this suspicious person was doing and in a brief few seconds he was shot in the side of his chest in an area not protected by his personal body armor.
As a police officer you do not routinely think of the harm that could come to you while doing your job. Oh, sure the thought of your personal safety is ingrained in your head during training and self preservation becomes instinctual out of necessity. But overall as a police officer working the streets you handle situations as they arise and yes at times put your life on the line. I don’t think Corporal Roberts had a problem doing this because it is obvious he believed in what he was doing. As a former police officer I can tell you that the most of the time the immediate fear of a situation is not realized until the incident is over. If it was any other way the distraction of fear could cripple you and take you off your game causing a serious officer safety issue. Corporal Roberts was fully in the game and not distracted on 08/19/09 when he was killed. He was fulfilling his sworn oath to the citizens of Tampa until the very end of his life. The citizens of Tampa should be ever so grateful to Corporal Roberts and his family because he gave his life for their protection.
There is no other single incident that drills to the center of a police officer’s heart than losing a co-worker on the job. Even though I have been retired for several years I still feel a loss when a police officer is killed in the line of duty. It is that much worse when the loss is from your team. This last statement was not meant to minimize any police officers death in the line of duty, but Corporal Roberts death is much more personal to me because I am retired from TPD and still part of this community. Corporal Mike Roberts laid his life on the line for his fellow man and died a hero. Corporal Mike Roberts leaves behind a wife and son. I encourage anyone who reads this article to consider donating to Corporal Roberts family to help with the financial issues resulting from his death. Please see the information below to see how you can help Corporal Roberts family. Below is also information regarding Corporal Roberts memorial service and funeral.
Tampa Police will honor Corporal Roberts with a Memorial Engraving, his name will be added to monument on Monday, August 24, at 9 a.m. at 411 North Franklin Street in Tampa .
His wake will be held Monday, August 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m at Blount and Curry Funeral Home at 3207 West Bearss Avenue in Tampa.
His Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Timothy Catholic Church , at 17512 Lakeshore Drive, in Lutz.
A special account has been established with the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union
for anyone interested in making a donation to the family of Tampa Police Corporal Michael Roberts.
Make Checks Payable To:
Cynthia Roberts or Tampa Police Memorial Fund
Account Number – #538412-00
You may use any CU family of credit unions in the Tampa Bay area
For additional information – please contact Mrs. Susan Delage at 276-3373
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