Patrol Operations

Deputy Chief Patrick Messmer is a highly decorated officer who most recently served as the Major of District 2, the largest division of the Tampa Police Department, which includes areas such as Busch Gardens, the University of South Florida, and the Tampa Palms and Hunters Green area frequently referred to as "New Tampa."

Joining the Tampa Police Department in 2005, his tenure has included diverse assignments and leadership roles. As a detective and detective sergeant, he participated in or supervised multiple high-profile criminal investigations involving serious offenses. He previously worked as a field training officer and began his career as a community-oriented policing officer in Tampa’s largest public housing complex. After serving as a patrol shift commander, he was assigned to the Special Operations Division as a lieutenant where he took an active role in special event and emergency management along with the management of many of the Department’s specialty units. He then went on to lead he Professional Standards Bureau as a Captain, where he was responsible for internal investigations, accreditation, quality assurance, and training. This was followed by assignment as the Major of the Criminal Investigations Division. In addition to his regular duties, he has also commanded law enforcement operations at Raymond James Stadium during large-scale special events. 

Deputy Chief Messmer is a general topics instructor and has completed over 1,500 hours of advanced and specialized law enforcement training in a variety of areas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Police Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. He is a graduate of the 287th session of the prestigious FBI National Academy and has also completed the FBI-LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute. He is also the senior police trustee of the Tampa Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Fund, the largest municipal pension fund in the state.