The Tampa Police Chief earns a base salary of $241,000 a year. Because of a 2024 contract that let Chief Lee Bercaw retire and be rehired the next day, he also collects at least $96,000 annually in pension benefits, bringing his total compensation to roughly $337,000. The position sits in city pay grade MN, which runs from about $158,000 to $270,500, so any future chief’s pay will depend on what the mayor negotiates and what the city council approves.
Where $241,000 Falls in the Pay Grade
Tampa classifies the Chief of Police in pay grade MN, with a range of $158,121.60 to $270,524.80 per year.1City of Tampa. Job Class Salary Table Before the 2024 restructuring, Chief Bercaw earned $204,672. The new agreement moved him to $241,000, a 17% increase that put him in the upper half of the band but still below the ceiling.
For comparison, the Assistant Chief of Police sits one step down in pay grade MM, which runs from $150,716.80 to $236,475.20.1City of Tampa. Job Class Salary Table The two ranges overlap on paper, though in practice the chief is paid well above any subordinate.
The Retire-Rehire Deal That Set the Current Number
The $241,000 figure can’t be understood without the contract that produced it. Bercaw enrolled in the city’s Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) in 2019, which locked in a mandatory retirement date of September 22, 2024. When that date arrived, he formally retired and was rehired the next day under a new agreement approved by city council.
The post-retirement contract pays him at least $96,000 a year in pension benefits in addition to the $241,000 salary, for a combined roughly $337,000. In exchange, the city stops making pension contributions on his behalf, which absorbs part of the added salary cost. The agreement runs through at least September 2027 and can renew automatically for up to four one-year terms. Bercaw also keeps annual leave, health insurance, sick pay, and eligibility for the cost-of-living and performance raises available to other city management employees.
The arrangement drew public scrutiny but is legally permitted, and it follows a pattern across Florida municipalities when a chief hits a mandatory DROP date and the city wants leadership continuity. The Tampa Police Department is the second-largest law enforcement agency in Florida, with more than 1,000 sworn officers and about 350 civilian staff.2City of Tampa. Careers at Tampa Police Department
What the Chief Gets Beyond Base Pay
The salary line is only part of the package. The chief has a city-provided vehicle equipped with police communications technology for both duty and commuting use. The position carries executive health benefits and enhanced life insurance, though the city doesn’t publish a dollar value for those items in its salary tables.
City employees, including police executives, can also contribute to a 457(b) deferred compensation plan. The IRS 2026 limit is $24,500, with an $8,000 catch-up for employees 50 and older and an $11,250 catch-up for those aged 60 through 63.3Internal Revenue Service. 401(k) Limit Increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA Limit Increases to $7,500 A governmental 457(b) has no early-withdrawal penalty, which matters for officers who often leave service before 59½.
Pension contributions normally flow through the Municipal Police Officers’ Retirement Trust Fund under Florida Statutes Chapter 185, with the city’s share calculated each year by actuarial valuation rather than a fixed percentage.4Florida Legislature. Florida Code Chapter 185 – Municipal Police Pensions Bercaw’s situation is different: his contract explicitly removes those contributions because he’s already drawing the pension.
How Tampa Compares to Other Florida Cities
Tampa’s chief salary sits in the middle for large Florida cities. Miami’s chief earns $325,000, and the city’s outgoing chief had been making $350,000. Orlando’s chief earns approximately $234,749 in base pay. Jacksonville runs a consolidated sheriff’s office rather than a municipal police department, so its structure doesn’t line up for a direct comparison.
The Tampa Police Department’s FY2026 allocation is $249.1 million out of a $708.2 million General Fund.5City of Tampa. FY2026 Budget Presentation The chief’s salary works out to a fraction of one percent of that department budget.
Who Sets the Salary and How to Verify It
The mayor appoints the Tampa Police Chief and proposes the salary and contract terms. The city council then reviews the agreement and votes on it in public session. Mayor Jane Castor, herself a former Tampa Police chief, has appointed the last two people to hold the job. The salary is paid from the General Fund, which draws primarily on property tax revenue and local fees.5City of Tampa. FY2026 Budget Presentation
The chief’s compensation is public information. The Florida Constitution guarantees the right to inspect public records, including municipal officials’ pay.6Florida Senate. Florida Constitution The city posts its salary tables online, and anyone can file a public records request for the full employment contract, including benefits and any supplemental pay. Officials at this level also file annual Form 6 financial disclosures with the Florida Commission on Ethics, which cover assets, liabilities, and outside financial interests beyond what the salary tables show.