A Tampa Police Department probationary officer is off the street after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence during a late-night traffic stop on Interstate 275 just before midnight on May 9. The off-duty officer, identified in local reports as Kevin Casazza, was pulled over near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard exit, taken into custody, and immediately relieved of duty while investigators sort out what happened. Casazza joined the department in 2025 and was still in his probationary training period when the stop occurred.
Speaking to the Tampa Free Press, Chief Lee Bercaw called the arrest “deeply disappointing” and said his officers are expected to live up to the “highest standards,” on and off the clock. The outlet reported that Casazza was pulled over and taken into custody just before midnight on May 9 on I-275, and that criminal investigators are moving forward with a DUI investigation while the department runs its own internal review.
Background on the officer
Casazza appears in a City of Tampa board packet as one of several new Tampa Police hires admitted to the city’s pension fund effective Dec. 8, 2025. The filing lists his name in the department’s December 2025 class of new hires, confirming he joined the force last year. That timeline lines up with reports that he was still within his probationary training period at the time of the traffic stop.
Department response and investigations
The Tampa Police Department has relieved Casazza of duty and opened an internal investigation while criminal investigators pursue the DUI case, according to the Tampa Free Press. Chief Bercaw’s comments underscored that officers are expected to follow the same laws they enforce, whether they are working or off-duty. Officials have not released additional operational details about the stop, and any decision on criminal charges will rest with prosecutors after the investigation is complete.
Legal implications
Driving under the influence is a criminal offense under Florida law, specifically Florida Statute 316.193 in the Florida Statutes, and penalties vary based on factors such as blood-alcohol level, injuries, and prior convictions. Prosecutors rely on those statutory guidelines when weighing charges, with enhanced penalties possible in cases involving serious injury, death, or repeat offenses. Any employment-related decisions by the department will follow its internal review process, which is separate from the criminal case.
Authorities have not publicly released information on test results or specific charges. This story will be updated as official records and statements become available.
