The Tampa Police Department has terminated officer Dukagjin Maxhuni following an internal investigation that found repeated violations of departmental policies. The investigation stemmed from a routine body-worn camera review of a traffic stop on February 25, 2026.

Incident Details

During the stop, the suspect driver got out of the vehicle and began walking away. When the suspect saw Maxhuni exit the vehicle, he stopped and raised his hands. Maxhuni told the suspect to turn around while simultaneously activating his Electronic Control Device (ECD), commonly known as a taser. Department officials found that Maxhuni deployed the taser without reassessing the situation or giving the suspect adequate time to comply with the verbal command.

Maxhuni also left the suspect unattended on the sidewalk and made several unprofessional, disparaging comments toward him. An internal review concluded that Maxhuni violated department policies covering Standard of Conduct, Response to Resistance, and Failure to Comply regarding department rules and enforcement philosophy.

Police Chief’s Statement

Police Chief Lee Bercaw addressed the firing in a statement, saying that treating everyone with dignity and respect is a fundamental obligation as a public servant in the City of Tampa. Maxhuni’s conduct represented a clear betrayal of that responsibility, and his repeated blatant disregard for professionalism, dignity, and respect violated the standards expected of every member of the department.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.