5,000 expected today at memorial for slain Tampa officer

Thousands are expected to pay tribute today to a Tampa police officer killed in the line of duty.

The memorial service for Cpl. Mike Roberts will begin at 10:30 a.m. at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Drive in Lutz. Police expect 5,000 people to attend the service. After the service, there will be a rifle salute, a missing man formation flyover and the playing of taps. There will be a private graveside ceremony.

Hundreds attended a wake Monday night. At times, the wait was more than an hour as mourners waited to pay their respects at Blount and Curry Funeral Home in north Tampa. Fellow officers, local politicians and people who didn't know the officer all came to honor Roberts, who was shot to death Wednesday night after confronting a man on Nebraska Avenue.

Bill White has spent more than a quarter-century working for the city; he's now a mechanic with the city's fleet maintenance department.

"I work for the city, he worked for the city," White said. "For me, we are one big family, and we try to take care of each other.''

Elton Johnson has been with the Tampa police reserves about 18 months. He's worked traffic at the wake. He said Roberts' death "brings you back down to Earth.''

"It is a dangerous job that we signed up to do,'' Johnson said. "At any time, it could be you.''

Tampa police Cpl. Mark Maziarz worked with Roberts several years ago when they were in the same unit. They had kept in touch since, and Maziarz was one of the officers who went to the hospital to check on Roberts the night of the shooting.

"Mike was a hero,'' Maziarz said. "He died protecting everyone in the city of Tampa.''

Former Tampa city councilman Bob Buckhorn said Roberts' death is a stark reminder of the dangers of police work.

"It is only times like this that we get to say thank you," Buckhorn said. "And it's unfortunate. We should thank them every day.''

Inside the funeral home, a row of police dogs stood at attention by Roberts' casket. Roberts worked with the canine unit before being promoted to a detective position with the hit-and-run task force.

Earlier Monday, Roberts name was added to the Tampa Police Memorial.

His widow, Cynthia - her wedding band hanging around her neck and their 3-year-old son, Adam, in her arms - touched the name of her husband, newly engraved on the monument to fallen police officers.

She said no public words, but the simple touch, the jaw clenched in an effort to stifle tears and the sunglasses hiding tear-stained eyes said enough about the pain of a woman who less than a week ago was a wife, not a widow.

With Cynthia and Adam nearby, Sgt. Paul Mumford recalled that he was the first person on the scene after his friend and co-worker was shot in the chest. He called out the corporal's name, he said, trying to get Roberts to speak.

Officers did their best Wednesday night, Mumford said, but "as a squad, we feel responsible that we weren't there to protect him."

Roberts was on routine patrol about 10 p.m. Wednesday in Sulphur Springs when he saw a man pushing a full shopping cart at Nebraska Avenue and Arctic Street. The area has had a rash of burglaries, so Roberts stopped to investigate.

Minutes after Roberts confronted Humberto Delgado Jr., the two started struggling, police say. Roberts was shot through an exposed area of his protective vest, under the arm.

"For generations to come, after all of us are gone, he will still be remembered for his service and sacrifice to this city and this community," police Chief Stephen Hogue said.

Roberts was 38 years old. A fund has been established for his family. Donations can be made to the Tampa Police Memorial Fund by sending checks to 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa FL 33602. In the memo section, write: Cpl. Mike Roberts Memorial Fund.