Duty Death: Officer Charlie Dallas - [Tampa]
Tampa Tribune
TAMPA, Fla. — Veteran Lakeland police officer Charlie Dallas, who had been named the department’s Officer of the Year several times, died Monday afternoon in a car crash.
Dallas, 56, spent about 20 years with the department. He was a longtime canine handler but recently had moved back to patrol duty.
“Charlie was one of the bravest and most courageous officers I’ve worked with,” police spokesman Jack Gillen said.
The married father of two was driving a 2008 Ford Explorer about 4:20 p.m. Monday when he was involved in a crash as he drove north on State Road 27 near Jackson Street, investigators said.
Dallas’ sport utility vehicle crashed into a car that swerved into his lane trying to avoid an accident with another vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The officer’s Explorer overturned, and he was ejected. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP. No one else was injured in the crash.
“To say the mood in the police department was somber after hearing the news would be an understatement,” Gillen said. “It was extremely sad. Charlie was extremely well respected throughout the department.”
Dallas, a former Lakeland firefighter, had been working an off-duty detail for the Lakeland Regional Medical Center when the crash occurred.
“We assist them with the transporting of psychiatric patients,” Gillen said. “I believe that he was heading back to Lakeland Regional at the time, and the transport already had been accomplished.”
Several years ago, Dallas was told he had six months to live after doctors found signs of cancer on his esophagus and throat, according to a Lakeland Ledger story. Dallas underwent chemotherapy and returned to the job.
Dallas received the department’s Medal of Valor for his actions while catching two murder suspects in 1999. In April 2000, he was named Officer of the Year.
After a double murder in 2008, police tracked down the shooting suspect, who was pointing a short-barrel shotgun to his head and threatening to kill himself. Dallas persuaded the suspect to put down the gun, police said, and the man was taken into custody.
While Dallas was praised by the department for his heroism, he also had some controversial moments.
A Lakeland police internal investigation of a 2008 vehicle pursuit found Dallas in violation of off-duty communications, according to the Ledger. Dallas was given a formal reprimand after it was deemed he failed to follow departmental procedures monitoring communications while off-duty in his police vehicle.
In 2004, following a crash involving Dallas, Lakeland police announced they would limit the circumstances when officers could use their patrol cars in pursuits, the Ledger reported. In March 2004, Dallas began chasing a man who was seen driving recklessly. During the pursuit, the man sped from a business, nearly hitting two cars, and later struck a car driven by a Polk City resident. Three people were injured.
An internal review determined Dallas acted properly in that pursuit.
When Dallas was named the department’s 1996 Officer of the Year, his chief was unaware that Dallas had been subject to a yearlong restraining order to protect his wife from him, according to the Associated Press. The order was issued after Elaine Dallas swore under oath that her husband had threatened to kill them both and “bust all of your teeth out.” He was never charged.
According to the Lakeland Police Department’s Web site, officers’ prayers go to his wife Elaine and their sons Dustin and Justin. Funeral services are still being arranged, police say.
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