Pick of assistant chiefs was 'very, very smart'

John Bennett and Marc Hamlin are friends; they go to the same church and their children attend school together.

The longtime Tampa Police Department employees have been involved in fatal shootings during their careers and helped oversee safety for Tampa's most recent Super Bowl.

Now they have something else in common, too. Last week, they were named the department's assistant chiefs, rising from the rank of major.

They began their new jobs Monday.

"Both John and Marc are experienced and capable crime fighters and have taken underprivileged areas and have significantly reduced crime," said Jane Castor, who promoted Bennett and Hamlin after being named Tampa's first female police chief.

Bennett, a 24-year veteran, replaces Castor as assistant chief of operations. He said the promotion is the culmination of his career.

Hamlin, a 19-year veteran, takes over as assistant chief of investigations and support from Bob Guidara, who retired last week. He said he's humbled by the honor and knows he has big shoes to fill.

Sgt. Jerry Clark, a veteran officer who has worked under both men, said Bennett "is the most analytical person I've ever met in my life," while Hamlin runs more by instinct, making for a great combination.

"Chief Castor was very, very smart in her choices," Clark said. "They were almost the obvious choices, but that's not always what happens."

In District II, where Bennett served as major, the crime rate fell 34 percent from January through August compared with the same period last year. The district includes Seminole Heights, Sulphur Springs and New Tampa.

Bennett, a father of four, spent 15 years as a member and commander of the Tactical Response Team. Through it, he co-founded the Badge Bowl, a football game between police and Tampa Fire Rescue that raises money for children with cancer.

In February 2005, the northeast New Jersey native was the lead sniper involved in shooting a suspect who was holding a woman hostage.

"I remember he started a countdown like he was going to kill her," Bennett said. "Her kids were standing right there."

The suspect died; the hostage was saved.

Bennett, 46, who graduated from Gulf High School in Pasco County, has a bachelor's degree in criminology from Saint Leo University and a post-graduate certificate in executive leadership from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.

Castor said Bennett is a quiet, intelligent team player who does a good job of recognizing trends.

The more outgoing Hamlin is also a natural fit for his position, she said.

Hamlin has spent more than a year commanding the department's Special Support Division, a task he will retain as assistant chief. He oversees the city's major events and hurricane preparation, and runs the department's specialty squads, including hostage negotiation, dive and bomb teams, canine, aviation and marine patrol.

The father of three oversees security at Tampa Bay Buccaneers games.

He has worked in all three Tampa police districts and in undercover units of the narcotics bureau and street anticrime squad. He also served nine years on the city's Fire and Police Pension Fund, including four years as chairman.

Hamlin said some of his best achievements come from his work in Ybor City. From 2001-02, his squad made about 1,000 arrests there.

"We kind of took back control of Ybor City," he said.

Hamlin, 43, has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Marist College and a master's in public administration from Troy State University.

In February 1995, Hamlin fatally shot a man while investigating a domestic dispute in Sulphur Springs. Hamlin said Craig Cromer, 31, refused to drop a pistol and began raising it. During the incident, Hamlin was accidentally shot in the right arm by his partner.

Cromer's parents sued the city 10 months later, saying the officers caused the incident to escalate. An internal investigation and the state attorney's office cleared the officers of wrongdoing. The city settled the lawsuit.

Hamlin said he's going to enjoy his new role.

"I love being a cop," he said. "I love coming to work every day."