TAMPA, FL. (AUGUST 28, 2025) – – The Tampa Police Department will join the Tampa Police Memorial Committee to honor Officer Bryan A. Reese, 90 years after his ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Officer Bryan A. Reese, a 30-year-old native of Edwardsville, Alabama, met a tragic end on August 29, 1935. A respected member of the Tampa Police Department, Officer Reese was assisting on a gambling raid when he was accidentally shot and killed when a a fellow officer’s gun discharged as he was grabbing a suspect. Joining the force in 1926, Officer Reese had served the Tampa community for nearly nine years. He left behind a wife and a young daughter, Emily Joan Reese, and his son, Bryan Reese, Jr., was born just after his death. A subsequent inquest declared the shooting an unfortunate accident.
Officer Reese’s passing was a somber milestone for the department, marking the first time the new 1935 police pension law would be used. His wife was granted $100 per month for life or until she remarried, and his children received a monthly benefit of $15 for the first year, providing some measure of support during a time of immense grief.
To honor his memory and the unwavering commitment of all our fallen heroes, the Tampa Police Department will host a Memorial Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 11:30 am in front of the Monument to Fallen Officers outside Tampa Police Headquarters.
The ceremony will feature a tribute by the Tampa Police Honor Guard, a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by Officer Bryan Reese and all who serve to protect our community.
The community is invited to join us in remembering Officer Reese and help us ensure he is never forgotten. For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be streamed live at facebook.com/TampaPD .