Tampa Is…?

45 years ago…

September 4, 1961 — Police officers fire eight shots through the windshield of their patrol car in a madcap high-speed chase through West Tampa before catching a man wanted for reckless driving. Beginning at LaSalle and North Boulevard, the chase spun through city streets without slowing down for stop signs or lights. It ended when officers forced the motorist’s bullet-riddled car into a sand bank a block north of the west entrance to the Columbus St. Bridge. Officer J.B. Beckner drove and shot at the same time, and his partner, Officer J.R. Hawkins, suffered cuts on his right arm from the flying glass. Inspector Leon Powell said in response to the incident that “No, we’re not supposed to shoot through the windshields. All I can say is that they were so intent on doing this job that they neglected the safety aspects of how they were doing it.”

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.