TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa City Council approved interim Chief Lee Bercaw on Thursday as Tampa’s next police chief.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor named Bercaw the new chief on June 2, dropping his “interim” title. The city council voted unanimously for Bercaw, who joined Tampa Police in 1997.

Castor said she was confident in forgoing a national search as she watched Bercaw perform the job during the last few months.  

Bercaw, a 27-year veteran of the police department, has served as interim chief the last six months. He became interim chief following the resignation of former chief Mary O’Connor.

Bercaw, 51, who has been with the department since 1997, was named acting chief the same day O’Connor resigned. Bercaw has worked in all of the city's three districts.

Tampa Police Union Spokesperson Brian Barclay said Bercaw is the perfect candidate for the job.

“The morale has turned around tremendously while he has been interim,” said Barclay.

The Tampa PBA says in the coming years, Tampa Police will face new and unique challenges to the department, namely staffing numbers and new technologies.

And, it says, Bercaw has already started to address mental health issues both internally with police, and the general public.

“Definitely keeping up with manpower from our side is probably one of our biggest challenges and what we think we should focus on,” Barclay said.  “From the city aspect, I mean technology is changing, what is demanded of a police officer is changing regularly. Day to day it changes what the demand is, but I think Lee Bercaw will be able to stand up and meet the challenge.”

Tampa City Council members praised Bercaw for stability he has already brought to the department as the interim chief.

Although Bercaw is set for retirement in 2024 under the state’s DROP plan, it’s likely he would continue his role as chief as an independent contractor, similar to former Police Chief Brian Duggan.