David Lamar Curtis
Birth: October 3, 1978
Death: June 29, 2010
Obituary
CURTIS, Officer David Lamar Amazing Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Uncle, In-law, Police Officer and Friend. Oct. 3rd 1978-June 29th 2010
Dave, 31, of Bushnell died on June 29th doing what he loved to do, being a police officer.
Dave was born in Mobile, AL and went to school at Mobile Christian where he was a valuable member of the football team. He continued his football career at Harding University in Searcy, AR. Dave moved back to Mobile where he attended the University of South Alabama and studied Criminal Justice.
This is where he met the love of his life, his wife and best friend, Kelly, while she was at Spring Hill College. Dave and Kelly moved to Tampa in 2002 and he worked for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department where he was a detention deputy and part of the TACT team. In 2006 Dave began work for the Tampa Police Department where he was soon honored as the “employee of the month”. Dave thoroughly enjoyed his work and the challenge of being a policeman and soon became a part of the Honor Guard.
Dave and Kelly have four boys: Austin (9), Sean (8), Tyler (5) and Hunter (8mo.) and to them their dad is the strongest, most fun dad and a hero to each of them. Dave was so proud of his family, especially his boys, who look exactly like him. Dave was a wonderful and quiet man with a huge heart. He was simple, honest, fun-loving, hard working, and always made people laugh with jokes and his stories. He loved fishing, hunting, desserts, Alabama football, being a police officer, and most of all being a dad.
In addition to his wife and children Dave is survived by his mother, Cindy Hatcher Warre;, father, Rick Curtis; grandmother, Margaret “Mock” Curtis and his twin sister, Autumn Stradley, her husband, Shane and their three daughters: Jordan, Bailey and Maren.
Visitation and Viewing is on Friday, July 2nd at 6 pm and the Funeral service will be on Saturday, July 3rd at 10 am both services will be held at Idlewild Baptist Church located at 18371 North Dale Mabry Hwy. Lutz, FL 33548. Private Interment to follow services.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tampa Police Department Honor Guard 411 North Franklin St. Tampa, FL 33602. Words of comfort may be expressed at www.blountcurrycarrollwood.com Arrangements are by Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Carrollwood Chapel
Criminal Details
ODMP.org
June 29, 2010
Officer David Curtis and Police Officer Jeffrey Kocab were shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest at a traffic stop at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 50th Street.
Officer Curtis stopped a vehicle because it did not have a visible license plate. He called for an additional unit to assist him because a male passenger in the car was wanted on a misdemeanor charge for writing a worthless check. When Officer Kocab arrived, he and Officer Curtis attempted to arrest the suspect. The suspect drew a weapon and shot both officers at close range.
A witness called 911 to report the shooting. Officer Kocab died shortly after arriving at the hospital and Officer Curtis was pronounced dead a few hours later.
The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody four days later. He was charged with five counts of first degree murder when it was determined he had committed three other murders in Tampa. On November 15th, 2013, he was convicted of murdering both officers and the jury subsequently recommended he receive the death penalty. He was formally sentenced to death on May 30th, 2014.
Officer Curtis had served with the Tampa Police Department for three years and eight months and had previously served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived by his wife, four young sons, parents, and twin sister.