A Tampa police officer has been terminated after an internal investigation found he violated several of the department’s policies, the department announced Tuesday.
In 2022, Dukagjin Maxhuni made a narcotics arrest outside of store at the corner of North 15th Street and East 26th Avenue.
Body cam footage from this arrest sparked outrage. The video shows him cursing and “taunting” bystanders, which prompted the Tampa Police Department to conduct an internal audit.
Chief Lee Bercaw had said his actions and statements during this arrest were unacceptable and that his behavior “would not be tolerated.” Maxhuni was disciplined for these violations, TPD says.
On February 25, 2026, Maxhuni conducted a traffic stop with another officer. The stopped driver, after already having fled the scene once, exited the car and was walking away. Once they noticed Maxhuni exit the unmarked police car, the suspect stopped and put his hands up.
Body cam video shows Maxhuni activating his taser without reassessing or providing the suspect “with adequate time to comply with the command before he deployed his agency-issued taser.” He then deployed his taser while the other officer attempted to take the suspect into custody.
“Immediately following the arrest, Maxhuni left the suspect lying on the sidewalk unattended and made several unprofessional and disparaging comments to the suspect,” TPD said.
Bercaw says these incidents carried serious consequences.
“From the day an officer is hired with the Tampa Police Department, we make it clear, that treating everyone with dignity and respect is a fundamental obligation as a public servant in the City of Tampa,” said Bercaw in the TPD release. “Maxhuni’s conduct represented a clear betrayal of that responsibility.”
“Our community deserves better,” he continued. ” The chief also emphasized that his behavior does not reflect the character, values, or commitment of the just over 1,000 officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve this city with honor and integrity.”
TPD found Maxhuni to be in violation of policies related to the standard of conduct, response to resistance, and failure to comply regarding the philosophy of enforcement within the department’s policies.
According to TPD, Maxhuni had been employed with the department since 2013.