Community Welcomes Police Lieutenant Home After Year In Iraq

TAMPA, FL — Following a year-long deployment in Iraq, Tampa Police Lt. Travis Maus arrived at Tampa International Airport Friday night to a crowd welcoming his return including Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan who made a special presentation to Maus -- his newly minted lieutenant's badge.

Maus has been with the Tampa Police Department for almost 20 years. He has worked in all three patrol districts as a street crimes officer, detective and street crimes sergeant in District II.

Maus was assigned as the detective sergeant of the Gun Crime Intelligence Squad in the Violent Crimes Bureau before being promoted to lieutenant by Dugan while still deployed in Iraq. This is the first time in the history of the department that a promotion was made during a military deployment.

Maus learned of his promotion when Dugan made a surprise phone call to Iraq.

"Travis has dedicated himself to the protection of others," said Dugan. "Whether it is the local community as a member of our police department, our nation as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve or, most importantly, to him as a husband and father, Travis looks out for others. As the chief of police, I look for qualities that will make for a great leader for the future of our agency. Travis exhibits these qualities in his military and civilian roles. This made my decision to promote him to the rank of lieutenant during his most recent deployment a very easy decision. I am glad to welcome Travis home safely and officially present him with his lieutenant badge."

Maus has been a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for almost 15 years, is a senior instructor pilot on Blackhawk helicopters and is currently a chief warrant officer 4 with Alpha Company, 5-159th.

During his yearlong deployment to Iraq, he and his company, the"Ghostriders," successfully flew several hundred missions in and out of five countries in the Middle East.