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Injured Tampa Police Officer Back On Force As Civilian

News Channel 8 file photo by JOHN WINTERROWD

A bullet ended John Armao's career as a police officer when it damaged a muscle in his right shoulder.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

TAMPA - John Armao doesn't carry a gun to work anymore, but that's fine with him.

Four days after retiring as a Tampa police officer because of a career-ending injury, Armao came back on the beat, so to speak, working as a civilian crime analyst at the police department.

He runs reports on monthly crime statistics for District 1, covering south Tampa, and also crunches data on crime trends.

"Everything's going pretty good," Armao, 41, said Wednesday. "It's a little culture shock, but I don't feel different. I still feel like a cop."

In May 2007, Armao had accompanied other officers and a bail bondsman to 711 N. Castle Court to arrest Kevin Dexter Hunter, 38, a felon sought on charges of weapons possession and aggravated assault. Hunter was hiding in a closet and came out shooting, police said.

His .44-caliber Winchester bullet ripped through Armao's right cheek, then shattered a bone and damaged a muscle in Armao's right shoulder. Hunter shot himself a few minutes later, police said.

The bullet scarred Armao's right cheek and left him unable to lift his right arm over his head. In April, a doctor told Armao his arm was at "maximum medical improvement," words the 18-year department veteran dreaded to hear.

Police department policy requires officers on light duty to return to full duty or take a pension within 12 months from the date they are declared at maximum medical improvement.

Earlier this year, Armao said he dreaded leaving the career he loved. Plus, he needed to keep working. Although he said his pension would give him roughly $3,800 a month, his retirement would leave his family, which includes his wife and two daughters, without adequate health insurance.

Before Armao retired July 24, police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said the agency hoped to find a job for Armao because he was the kind of officer others admire and the department hates to lose.

Fortunately, at that point, Armao was working light duty in the crime analysis unit, filling in what was supposed to be a temporary vacancy. When the job then opened for applicants, he threw his name in the ring. He started as a civilian in the unit on July 28.

He's glad not only to be employed but happy to help his former colleagues, he said. "Being a cop, you kind of understand what they need."

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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