An off-duty Tampa police officer is facing criminal and internal scrutiny after deputies say he blasted down I-75 at more than 100 miles per hour early today, weaving through traffic near Big Bend Road before getting pulled over.
The city identified the driver as Jason Brown, a Tampa Police Department officer since 2008. According to officials, Hillsborough County deputies stopped and arrested him around 6:30 a.m. while he was in his personal vehicle. Brown was already on administrative duty for a separate internal investigation, and now this roadside run is being folded into that existing review.
TPD's public statement
In a statement on the City of Tampa website, the department says Brown was arrested just before 6:30 a.m. after deputies observed him driving in excess of 100 miles per hour. Police Chief Lee Bercaw is quoted as saying he is "deeply disappointed" and calling the alleged behavior conduct that "directly contradicts our department’s mission." It is the kind of headline no department wants, especially when it involves one of its own.
How deputies say it unfolded
Hillsborough County deputies told reporters the off-duty officer, behind the wheel of his personal car, was spotted recklessly weaving in and out of travel lanes on southbound I-75 before they made the stop on the interstate. As reported by WTSP, Brown was taken into custody and booked following the traffic stop.
Officer's employment and review
According to the City of Tampa, Brown has been with the department since 2008 and had already been working in an administrative capacity because of an unrelated internal investigation. That ongoing review will now also cover the alleged high-speed incident, and officials say it could lead to discipline depending on what the internal process finds.
Why traffic enforcement matters
Traffic safety is not exactly a side project for Tampa police. The Tampa Police Department 2024 annual report notes that the Traffic Homicide Investigation Unit handled dozens of fatal crashes last year, while the Motor and DUI units logged thousands of traffic stops. Those numbers help explain why leadership is quick to stress that how officers drive, on or off duty, gets extra scrutiny from the public and from internal affairs.
What comes next
The criminal case will move forward through Hillsborough County authorities after Brown's booking, separate from the police department’s own administrative process. WTSP reports that investigators have not yet released details on specific charges. Officials say they expect to provide more information as both the criminal and internal reviews continue.
