Tampa Police Benevolent Association Endorses Bob Buckhorn for Mayor

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Police Benevolent Association officially endorsed former Mayor Bob Buckhorn in the 2027 Tampa mayoral election during an event Monday at the Tampa PBA office, citing his proven public-safety record and vision for keeping Tampa safe as the city continues to grow.

“There aren’t many active or retired Tampa cops that don’t have a story about Bob Buckhorn backing them up on a call or assisting in a potentially dangerous situation.  It could be the middle of the night or in the pouring rain and he would stop, get out to make sure that they were safe.  He has always had our backs and we have his” said Brandon Barclay, president of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association. “As mayor, he listened to the officers on the street, provided the resources they needed and built a state-of-the-art firearms training facility where officers could prepare for real-life situations. His leadership helped reduce Tampa’s crime rate by more than 40 percent. We know Bob will continue investing in the people, training and technology officers need to meet Tampa’s future public-safety challenges. We trust his leadership and are proud to endorse him for mayor.”

During Buckhorn’s eight years as mayor, Tampa’s crime rate fell by more than 40 percent. His administration invested in officers, equipment and technology and built a new $5.4 million police firearms training facility featuring nearly 60 shooting lanes, classrooms and a configurable training structure where officers could practice realistic scenarios.

As Tampa continues to grow, Buckhorn has pledged to keep public safety at the center of his administration by recruiting and retaining highly qualified officers, ensuring competitive pay and benefits and investing in modern training, equipment and technology. He will also prioritize stronger partnerships between officers and the neighborhoods they serve.

“Nothing matters more than keeping Tampa’s families and neighborhoods safe, and I am honored to have the support of the officers who put their lives on the line for our city every day,” Buckhorn said. “When I was mayor, we worked together to reduce crime by more than 40 percent and built the modern training facility our officers needed. Tampa is changing, and our public-safety strategy must keep pace. As mayor, I will make sure our officers have the staffing, training, equipment, technology and support they need to protect every neighborhood and keep Tampa safe for the next generation.”

The Tampa PBA endorsement adds to Buckhorn’s growing support from Tampa’s public-safety community. He has also earned endorsements from Tampa Fire Fighters Local 754 and the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association.

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