TAMPA, Fla. — May 19, 1998, remains one of the darkest days in Tampa Bay law enforcement history after Hank Earl Carr murdered two Tampa detectives and a state trooper in a deadly rampage.
The Incident and Its Impact
- Carr was a career criminal who had been handcuffed but hid a handcuff key on his person.
- Using the key, he freed himself, grabbed a detective’s gun, and fatally shot Detectives Ricky Childers and Randy Bell of the Tampa Police Department.
- He then carjacked a pickup truck and fled north on I-75, where he killed State Trooper James Crooks in Pasco County.
The incident prompted the passage of a state law banning the carrying of concealed handcuff keys, a direct response aimed at protecting officers in future arrests.
Remembering the Officers
Retired Tampa police officer Larry McKinnon, who worked alongside Childers and Bell, described the day as one of the most emotionally difficult in his 40-year career:
“You get out there, you do your job, you detach yourself from the emotional side of it until it’s over. Then once it’s over, negotiators and other cops sat back in a room and cried.”
The Backstory and Aftermath
- Carr had shot the 4-year-old son of his girlfriend, Bernice Bowen, which triggered the violent spree.
- Bowen went to prison for her role; prosecutors say she knew about the handcuff key and failed to reveal Carr’s true identity when he gave a fake name to officers.
- The tragedy influenced changes in media coverage of hostage situations to avoid aiding criminals by broadcasting live tactical movements.
Legacy of Change
This tragic day led to new laws, improved police procedures, and changes in media practices — all aimed at preventing a similar loss of life.
Source Attribution
Information sourced from:
- Tampa Police Department archives
- Interviews with retired officers
- Local Tampa news reports