On Friday morning, the Tampa Police Department will hold a ceremony in front of the Tampa Police Department Monument for Fallen Officers
in honor of Officer Porfirio Soto, Jr who was shot and killed on December 30, 1988.
Officer Soto, 25, a police rookie, and Officer Charlotte Johnston were making
an arrest on Boynton Beach shooting suspect Jackie Simpson when Simpson leaped at Officer Soto. The two men grappled before Simpson pulled a .38 caliber revolver and twice shot Officer Soto point blank in the chest. Officer Soto’s bulletproof vest deflected those shots, but as the officer raised his left arm in defense, Simpson fired at his unprotected side.
Officer Soto died an hour later. Simpson, apprehended after a chase, was later sentenced to 25 years,.
On April 13, 1997, Simpson was found dead in his jail cell. An investigation disclosed that he hung himself.
Police Chief Brian Dugan and his staff will participate in a Memorial
Remembrance Ceremony as the Department’s Honor Guard pays respect to Officer Porfirio Soto Jr.’s memory. Family, friends, and co-workers will be in
attendance. The ceremony is open to the public.
