Deputy Chief Eric DeFelice most recently served as the Major of the Criminal Investigations Division, which is comprised of the Major Crimes Bureau, the Violent Crimes Bureau, and the Forensics Investigations Unit. He provided oversight of long-term narcotics investigations, latent investigations, as well as evidence collection and storage.
Prior to joining the Tampa Police Department in 2005, Deputy Chief DeFelice began his career in Montgomery County Maryland, serving three years as patrol officer.
Deputy Chief DeFelice’s initiative and dedicated performance were quickly recognized. Within two years, he was asked to join the District One Quick Uniform Attack on Drugs (QUAD) Squad to address street-level narcotics issues plaguing the district. In 2010, he received his first promotion, rising in rank to detective. Later, he transitioned to the role of Corporal for a Rapid Offender Control (ROC) Squad, focusing on the swift apprehension of criminal suspects and repeat offenders.
With leadership skills evident, Deputy Chief DeFelice was promoted to Sergeant in 2014. He then became the commanding officer of another ROC Squad before moving to his next assignment as supervisor of the then newly formed Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT). In this role, he coordinated investigations, intelligence-gathering, and enforcement action with a goal of dismantling organizations involved in illicit street-level narcotics activities and improving the quality of life for residents.
2018 brought promotion to the rank of Lieutenant and he began working in District Three. In his new capacity, Deputy Chief DeFelice took quickly to the role of motivating personnel to higher levels of performance while balancing the expectations of executive management. His supervisory style conveyed a vested interest in both employee and departmental success while working toward the goal of crime reduction. His proudest accomplishment during this period was earning the respect of those who worked under his command. He was then promoted to Captain and began his assignment as the commander of Sector C in District 2.
Deputy Chief DeFelice was blessed with a promotion to his current rank where he assumed the responsibilities of Investigations and Support. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from Saint Leo University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.