TIAPD K-9 officer named Sykes Heroes Officer of the Year

This week, Officer Thomas (TJ) Donnelly was named the 2020 Sykes Heroes Officer of the Year for the Tampa International Airport Police Department. Officer Donnelly, along with his four-legged partner K9 Ikar, are tasked with narcotics interdiction at TPA. As a part of the Airport’s Special Investigations Unit, Donnelly and Ikar have been deployed more than 400 times since 2018, and have been involved in the seizure of 430 pounds of illegal drugs and $600,000 in illicit currency and firearms. In addition to serving the Airport community, the team has become a valuable regional asset, routinely called upon to assist U.S. Customs, DHS, U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement agencies.

Donnelly is a longtime resident of the Tampa Bay area who has proudly passed along his passion for public service to his sons, one is a local firefighter and another serving his country in the U.S. Army.