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Terry Speegle Answers Internal Call

Posted Jul 2, 2010 by Geoff Fox

Updated Jul 2, 2010 at 04:01 PM

Despite his anger, Terry Speegle found inspiration in news reports about the two Tampa police officers shot to death during a traffic stop early Tuesday.

Speegle wasn’t friends with Tampa officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, but he has known Michael Braswell for years. Braswell was one of two Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot and injured last week after stopping a gun-wielding bicyclist.

Currently an employee at Family Gun & Retail Store on Gall Boulevard, Speegle, 28, is a former Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He now wants to join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s something I thought about when I got out of the Marine Corps, but I put it off, and put it off, and put it off,” Speegle said. “But now, you’ve got four officers shot in the last week. Maybe the law enforcement agencies should be looking at military guys who have experience in recognizing a bad situation before it starts.”

Speegle said he was in the Marines from 1999 to 2006, and had one tour each in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was part of an aerial squadron on which he served as an aerial crew chief and door gunner, and was part of a casualty evacuation team.

“If somebody gets shot, you fly in there, pick them up and get them out of there,” he said. “I never got shot or anything, but I did mess my back up a little. I had a lot of friends get shot, though.”

Kevin Doll, Pasco sheriff’s spokesman, said he hasn’t heard of other people inspired to join law enforcement after the recent shootings, but he didn’t seem surprised to hear about Speegle.

“It’s just like after 9/11, a lot of people joined the military. People want to get into law enforcement for a number of reasons and that kind of thing can spur people into action,” Doll said, referring to the shootings.

Doll said there are a lot of former military personnel at the sheriff’s office, but even with a military background, potential deputies have to be state-certified. Speegle said he will seek certification through the law enforcement program at Pasco-Hernando Community College.

As Speegle contemplated his future, a manhunt continued for Dontae Rashawn Morris, the 24-year-old convicted felon who police say gunned down Officers Dave Curtis and Jeff Kocab on Tuesday. There is a $100,000 reward for Morris’ arrest and hundreds of law enforcement officers are combing the community for him.

Speegle’s friend and customer, Braswell, and fellow Polk Deputy Paul Fairbanks III, are recovering from wounds suffered in a gunfight with bicyclist Matthew Tutt, 21, who was killed.

Speegle said his family, including three daughters, is supportive of the potential career move, as is his current boss, Cory Swanstrom, owner of the gun shop.

“I know a lot of guys who say they want to step up, but I think a lot of them are all mouth,” Speegle said. “I’m putting my foot to the pavement. My wife, Jody, encouraged me and Cory (Swanstrom) said, ‘Don’t let anything hold you back. Just go.’ “