Tampa police chief Lee Bercaw to retire Aug. 6; Brett Owen to act

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw will retire on Aug. 6, 2026, closing more than 30 years with the city and a three-and-a-half-year tenure as chief. The City of Tampa says Assistant Chief Brett Owen will take over as acting chief after Bercaw steps down.

Mayor Jane Castor said Owen will remain in that role until the next mayoral election, making this an interim leadership change rather than a permanent appointment.

Why the transition matters

Because TPD is one of the city’s most visible public-safety agencies, a change at the top can affect how priorities are communicated, how internal decisions are made, and how residents read the department’s direction. The city is emphasizing continuity, and Owen is already overseeing the department’s investigative and support functions.

That matters because the department is not starting over. The city’s assistant chief profile says Owen has more than two decades in law enforcement and has worked through patrol, detective, supervisory, and command roles inside Tampa.

Bercaw’s next step

After retirement, Bercaw will move to the University of South Florida as a full-time faculty member in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. USF says he will serve as an associate professor of instruction and help coordinate the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program.

For Tampa residents, the next date to watch is Aug. 6. After that, attention shifts to how Owen handles the interim job and whether the next mayoral election becomes the point where the city chooses a longer-term chief.

Key sources

• City of Tampa news release: Chief Bercaw announces retirement
• USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences announcement