TAMPA — Tampa’s newest police chief is hitting the ground running with measures he hopes will continue to growing and improving the department.

Just one day after being sworn in, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw — who joined the department in 1997 — says some of his biggest priorities are officer wellness, candidate quality and community engagement.

Bercaw’s most recent post of interim police chief lasted six months, but he said he never expected it to become permanent.

“You always want to be ready to take that next position,” he said. “Being a deputy chief and assistant chief — you never know what could happen. It’s something that I never put my name in the hat until being interim and realizing this was the job for me.”

The chief said that his experience as a training officer has adequately equipped him for his current role, and his primary objective is to enhance the department’s performance and ensure that it provides optimal service to the community.

“These are the initiatives that we have been working on and we are adding to this list,” he said. “Community engagement, crime reduction, officer wellness and quality assurance.” 

While climbing the ranks with TPD, Bercaw also pursued a degree in higher education.

To his students at the University of South Florida, he’s known as Dr. Lee Bercaw.

The chief is currently teaching two master classes online and said his studies allow him do his job more effectively.

“It makes me see the broader picture in evidence-based policing,” he said. “We are not going to do initiatives that don’t work.”

It’s something Bercaw says he puts into practice every day — and recruiting the right candidates to do the same at TPD is a top priority for him.

“Having a diverse workforce is very important to me," he said, pointing out that the department currently has 40 vacancies. "We are doing a campaign to reach out to the community. I would like to have some homegrown Tampa police officers."

Bercaw said there is a scholarship available that will pay for the academy, and anyone with a passion for law enforcement can get a chance to train for the job — while also being paid to learn.

The deadline for the scholarship is coming up on June 23.

Despite those open spots, Bercaw said the city of Tampa has improved on crime overall. 

“Crime is down 9% with violent crime and violent crime with a firearm," he said. "Our homicides are down nearly 40%."

According to him, the department's homicide clearance rate is at 90%. He says that is because more individuals are coming forward, suggesting that the community’s confidence in TPD is increasing.

“Obviously, as being leader, everything falls on your shoulders," he said. "But I don’t take it as great weight — I take it as an initiative that is exciting. It’s always been a dream of mine to get more community cooperation because that is how we are going to build a safer Tampa.” 

Bercaw said it is important not to overlook opportunities for community engagement within the department. Building trust and strong relationships with those who depend on him is of utmost importance, he said.