Longtime Tampa Police Leader Gives Final Radio Transmission

TAMPA, FL — In a final radio transmission, Tampa Police Assistant Chief Ruben "Butch" Delgado retired from the department Thursday after 24 years.

Delgado, a lifelong West Tampa resident who had been serving as interim police chief following former Chief Brian Dugan's retirement Oct. 1, was among the candidates for Tampa's top cop slot, but was passed over in February when Mayor Jane Castor made the controversial decision to hire Mary O'Connor as chief, although O'Connor had been charged with resisting arrest by a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy while a rookie Tampa police officer.

After being passed over to serve as chief, Delgado announced his retirement in May

Delgado graduated from Jefferson High School and holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Florida. He attended the Southern Police Institute, hosted by the University of Louisville, in 2016 and Tampa Bay Chamber’s Leadership Tampa program in 2019.

He was attending the Major Cities Chiefs Association’s prestigious Police Executive Leadership Institute when he announced his retirement.

Married with two children, Delgado served as assistant chief of police overseeing police investigations and support services functions before he was named Dugan's heir apparent.

During his tenure with the Tampa Police Department, he served in all three patrol districts, the support services division and the criminal investigations division. During his assignment as captain of criminal investigations, he played an instrumental role in investigating the serial murder case in Seminole Heights in 2017.

In late 2017, he was promoted to the major of District One, where he previously served as a captain and is credited with forging partnerships with community organizations and to reduce crime and enhance the department’s relationship with the community.

"There is nothing more fundamental to people's quality of life than ensuring that law-abiding citizens, the overwhelming majority of Tampa residents, do not have to fear for their own safety in their home or neighborhood," said Delgado who, as interim chief, expanded the outreach program citywide. "With violent crime rising across the country, it is more important than ever for the Tampa Police Department to maintain strong partnerships with the community to ensure we have the best and most effective police department in the country."

In 2019, he was promoted to deputy chief of patrol operations, overseeing the three patrol districts of the department, and then promoted to assistant chief of investigations and support in February 2020.

Throughout 2020 and into 2021, as interim chief, Delgado took a lead role in public safety planning for Super Bowl LV held in Tampa in February 2021.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Ruben “Butch” Delgado,” Castor said.

Delgado said he has accepted a job in the private sector.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Delgado said in the statement. “I am so proud of the work the Tampa Police Department has accomplished, while serving and protecting the community over the years. Chief Mary O’Connor is a great leader and I know she will continue the proud legacy of this department.”

O'Connor said she was disappointed to see Delgado leave the department.

“Ruben Delgado and I have not only been colleagues but friends for over 20 years,” O’Connor said in a statement, noting that she was Delgado’s field training officer when he joined the department. “I am sad that he will no longer be with the Tampa Police Department, but I am very happy for him as he takes on this new role in the next chapter of his life.”