Tampa Police officers laid to rest one of their own on Sunday, a 20-year veteran of the force who lost his life in an off-duty motorcycle accident.

  • Officer Howard Gimbel died from injuries sustained on May 7
  • Wife Tonya Gimbel attended funeral while still recovering from injuries

More than two weeks ago, Tonya and Howard Gimbel were cruising along Clement Pride Boulevard in Riverview when a driver failed to see them while turning into an intersection. The driver struck their motorcycle, killing Howard and leaving Tonya with serious injuries.

Tonya Gimbel left the hospital for the first time since the accident on Sunday morning to bury her husband. Escorted by fellow Tampa Police officers, Tonya was brought to the service by ambulence, as she is still recovering from injuries sustained in the crash.

"I don't think I've faced it at all," said Gimbel, speaking publicly for the first time since the accident. "I'm still in shock."

During the service, with the couple's daughter Sarah looking on, Gimbel clutched at her husband's badge, given to her after the accident.

"When they brought it to me, it was like a sign that [Howard] was definitely gone," said Gimbel. "So I sleep with this at the hospital on my chest, because I feel like he's with me."

It will be a few weeks yet before Gimbel can leave the hospital and rejoin her daughter at home. For now, she says she's taking everything one day at a time.

"I just want to get through this day, be able to somehow figure out how to get through without someone who was so incredible for me," said Gimbel. "We have a life that we need to pick up on from here.