Best of 2009: Tampa Police and their Narrow Getaway

This black and white image, taken on October 11th in downtown Tampa of a small linear park sandwiched between the Tampa Police headquarters and their parking garage, was the most commented upon of my Tampa Daily Photo posts of 2009.

Tampa Police patrol our waters

The Tampa Police Department has a Marine Unit which is responsible for law enforcement and rescue activities on the waterways in and around the City of Tampa. According to the city's website for Tampa Police, HERE, the unit also assists the United States Coast Guard with Homeland Security and the United States Customs Service with illegal narcotics interdiction. Our city is almost surrounded by fresh and salt water and presents a number of challenges to law enforcement. Great changes in the depth of the water, tides and currents and, of course our weather. (It was 44-degrees this morning with a blinding blue sky and a high of only 62.) Tampa Bay is approximately 398 square miles of water and the Hillsborough River bisects the city and empties into the bay. Adding to our size and geography, we can boast of having the eighth largest seaport in the United States.

The Marine Unit is made up of five boats and two personal watercraft, the largest and fastest being a 32 foot Donzi ZF with twin outboard engines providing 500 horsepower. The Donzi is a serious boat for patrolling the water. The Marine Unit also has this 26-foot Boston Whaler, which was docked today at the Marjorie Yacht Basin near the Tampa Fire Rescue boat, a 28-foot Goldline, a 19-foot rigid hull inflatable and a 21-foot Carolina Skiff.

NOTE: My son gave me a new Nikon D80 camera body for Christmas. (He's a generous young fellow!!) I took a couple of days to try, try to gain some familiarity with its digital operation and features. I am excited that the Nikkor lenses that I have had for 30-40 years DO work with this new body. (I have not shot film through my F2 or other misc. Nikons in close to ten years.) It's great they fit and they feel like old friends as I mounted them to the D80 to go out shooting today. BUT, they are not auto in any way so this first effort is not to my crisp standards. I'm learning and will get better.

Monochrome: Tampa Police and their narrow getaway

This narrow yet very attractive and inviting respite is like a vertical park between the Tampa Police headquarters in downtown Tampa and the parking garage located just to its south. I would never have imagined that this place existed.

Thanks Aileni for this challenge each week of seeing our world in black, white and shades of gray.

If you love your world in black and white, be sure and visit some of the world's most interesting places and experience the incredible photographic artistry of Monochrome Maniacs!