Chief of Police Lee Bercaw, joined the Tampa Police Department in 1997. During his tenure, he has worked in all three districts. He has become known for his proactive crime reduction initiatives and his management of large-scale events in security and transportation for the Super Bowl, Republican National Convention, IFFA (International Indian Film Academy - aka “Bollywood”), Gasparilla and the College Football National Championship. In addition, he was instrumental in devising quality of life improvements and crime reduction strategies in the city.
Chief Bercaw's collaborative approach is evident in his partnership with the local VM Ybor community, leading to his authoring of the Prostitution Exclusion Zone Program, which reduced crime and enhanced quality of life along Nebraska Avenue, a highly traveled corridor of the city. He established the department's Professional Standards Bureau and launched the Quality Assurance Program to improve best practices through audits and training. Under his leadership, the department achieved initial accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.
Chief Bercaw is committed to community safety and crime reduction. When appointed Chief of Police, he established Community-Oriented Policing as the philosophical approach to be taken by every member of the department in every interaction with the public. His proactive, data-driven strategies have delivered notable results for Tampa, including a 21% reduction in overall crime in 2025 and a 52% decline in homicides, significantly outperforming national trends among major cities. The Tampa Police Department, under his guidance, has become a modern model for effective policing, emphasizing community engagement and trust-building.
He holds a doctorate in Criminal Justice from St. Leo University, as well as a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of South Florida (USF). This educational foundation, combined with extensive field experience, equips him to address complex law enforcement challenges. His research on human trafficking and large-scale event security has earned him recognition as a leading expert in the field.
Beyond operational roles, Chief Bercaw is a dedicated mentor and educator. A graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, hosted by the Police Executive Research Forum, he has conducted extensive research on training newly promoted police supervisors. As an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida (USF), he also shares his knowledge with future law enforcement professionals through guest lecturing, research projects, and grant partnerships. In 2016, he was honored by the USF Department of Criminology by being named to their Wall of Fame as an Outstanding Criminology Ambassador. In 2025, he was the recipient of the prestigious Soaring Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America. His involvement with the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Education and Research Foundation underscores his commitment to advancing the field.