The loss of a single police officer in the line of duty is always one too many. Tampa has lost three in the last 19 months. All in traumatically tragic fashion. Since 1895, the number of officers lost in the line of duty is 31. All are memorialized on a granite monument outside TPD headquarters on North Franklin Street in downtown.
As of a few nights ago, the memorial became more moving with the addition of a black-and-white marble wall and a “thin blue line” of LED light that arcs from headquarters to the top of Park Tower on North Tampa Street. The project was completed in three weeks. It will be on each night from 8 p.m. to midnight.
It was an obvious priority. To the fallen, to their families and to their fellow officers. None of the officers are–or will ever be–mere names. And they are, as the memorial says: “…United in honor.”
It was also fitting that it was finished before Mayor Pam Iorio’s watch ended. Her legacy will be largely the Riverwalk, the arts and City Hall stewardship during trying economic times. But no one will ever forget her role as citizenry surrogate during the emotional crucible that surrounded the murders of Cpl. Mike Roberts in August of 2009 and Officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis nine months ago.
Iorio was strong, emotionally resilient and professionally supportive of the TPD and Chief Jane Castor. Her job description doesn’t include Empathizer-in-Chief, but she channeled the citizens of Tampa and victims’ families in their collective horror, outrage and grief.
The “Thin Blue Line” is said to symbolize the thin line separating the lawful and the lawless. Police officers are society’s protectors and civilization’s front line.
There are no routine traffic stops or warrant servings, we are periodically and tragically reminded. And nothing good happens at hours when police are most needed. What an appropriate way to honor and memorialize those who literally put their lives on the line. Not unlike police officers themselves, the “Thin Blue Line” will be there every night.