Tampa Police Department

Chief Eric Ward grew up in the East Tampa community, playing little league in Belmont Heights, and graduating from Hillsborough High School. His diverse Tampa Police Department career started in 1988. Before becoming part of the department’s command staff, Chief Ward was a member of TPD's Tactical Response Team, Honor Guard, Hostage Negotiation Team, Patrol, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, K-9, Gang Suppression Unit, Firehouse Program, Street Anti-Crime Squad and Selective Enforcement Bureau. He is a certified instructor in Defensive Tactics as well as Fitness and Chemical Agents. He is also a two-time recipient of the department's Officer of the Month Award.

Chief Ward has served as the Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, and the department's Specialty Teams Commander overseeing K-9, Mounted Patrol, Traffic, Air Service, Marine Patrol, Dive Team, SWAT, Hostage Negotiation Team, Bomb Team, Honor Guard and the Special Incident Management Unit - overseeing security at more than 800 city sponsored events.. Ward also served as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Region 4 SWAT Commander. He took the Oath of Office as Chief of Police on May 22, 2015.

Chief Ward earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from St. Leo University. He is a member of Major Cities Chiefs Association, Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police Executive Research Forum. He is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Tampa.

Chief Ward is married with two children.