Tampa Police - January 18, 1995, Officer Norris Epps Jr., 30, and police pilot Dan Gilligan were searching Old Tampa Bay at night for a missing Orlando firefighter when their helicopter slammed into the water on the south side of the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Historic Gallery: Tampa officers killed in the line of duty pictures

Officer Ed Bowden, who jumped into the bay using his squad car's back seat for a flotation device, rescued Gilligan. However, Officer Epps slipped under the 65-degree water and disappeared. His body was found a week later.

Epps, a six-year patrol veteran, was on temporary assignment as a flight observer before reaching his choice assignment: a canine handler.

Related:

Two Tampa Police officers killed during traffic stop

Tampa Police Memorial Committee, Inc.