. >> and john deputy john kotfila was hit head on on the lee roy selmon expressway. he was taken to the hospital where he later died. >> the flags have been lowered to half staff. rows rows roses placed before a statute. 15 plaques remember deputies killed in the line of duty and 16th will be added for deputy john kotfila. nation-wide he is also the sixth law enforcement officers to die in a crash this year. >> you know we worry about getting shot and all of these other things that go on in our careers because here is an example right now where i think it's the second or third leading cause of death for law enforcement are these traffic crashes. >> in the last two days crashes have been t leading cause of death for law enforcements across the country, according to the national law enforcement officer's memorial fun, in 2015, 52 officers were killed a 6% increase over 2014. deputy john kotfila died early saturday after his cruiser was struck head on by a wrong-way driver. suv that hit him likely drove around warning signs and bar yens to barriers to enter the selmon e

are at half-staff as family and friends of deputy john kotfila come together to say their final good-bye. the funeral service is happening in lutz. deputy john kotfila was killed by a wrong-way driver last saturday. >>> eight people are getting help from the red cross this morning after a fire at an apartment building in tampa. someone living there was doing some sort of electrical wiring. overnight in the attic. thankfully though, everybody is okay. >>> and lots of eyes on this closing arguments in the hulk hogan sex tape trial. terry gene bollea is suing gawker for $10000 million. the website published a a sex tape shohowing him with the ex- wife of a tampa-based radio personalty. >>> we will have more local news in a few minutes but always important in the mornings, the weather leigh. >> that's right. and it's really not too bad this morning. we don't have the fog that we have had the past couple days but there are extra clouds and temperatures if anything are cooler than yesterday. i mean, still above average but it's cooler. 57 in zephyrhills. 64 plant city. 64 clearwater. 68 in bradenton. 70 in tampa. and notice the extra clouds. you w

are at half-staff as family and friends of deputy john kotfila come together to say their final good-bye. the funeral service is happening in lutz. deputy john kotfila was killed by a wrong-way driver last saturday. >>> eight people are getting help from the red cross this morning after a fire at an apartment building in tampa. someone living there was doing some sort of electrical wiring.

reporter: now deputy john kotfila is remembered as a man who would not think twice to help someone and fellow law enforcement officers are not surprised by his actions last now visitation for deputy john kotfila will begin at 10:00 this morning and the funeral this afternoon here at st. timothy catholic church in lutz and news channel 8 wiwill cover the service live and we will stream it on our website, wfla.com. >> okay. and you know, i have heard from a lot of peoplele who knew him permly and i have only been hearing great things about what a good guy he truly was. thank you, josh. >>> time now 5:50. right now, -- 5:05. right now, deputies are looking for this man. they tellll us that he stole a car in mulberry but there was a toddler inside the car. the care taker was inside the pharmacy on north church avenue filling a prescription. left the kid in the car. when she came out, the car and the child were gone. you are looking at eagle 8 abandoned. and the toddler was still inside the car but the suspect here wawas gone. if you have information on who he may be, you are urged to call the polk county sheriff's office. >>> an irs office in tampa should be less chaotic today. is only ta

deputy john kotfila jr. gave his life to save another >> john robert putting his life and car in front of a another. >> reporter: and his funeral, loved ones remembered him not just for the heroic way he died, but for how he lived, to serve others so selflessly. and today's tribute to deputy kotfila was truly moving. a sea of law enforcement officers came to pay their respects, jenn holloway joins us with more on the tribute to the fallen deputy. >> reporter: john kotfila served to the very end. a young man giving his own life to save the life of another. shall we gather at the river >> reporter: the sweet sounds of hymns filled saint timothy's church as one of the bravest men to wear a hillsborough county deputy uniform was laid to rest. among family and friends were dignitaries including governor rick scott and pam bondi. all there to pay their respects to deputy kotfila, just 30 years old, who gave his life in the line of duty. others. >> reporter: kotfila's father is in the force, his brother, an officer in massachusetts. >> i never thought i could be more proud at his graduation, but i'm more proud now. >>

john kotfila will be held here at st. timothy church in lutz later today. of course, the deputy died in the line of duty last week on the selmon expressway. according to a witness, john kotfila drove his cruiser into the path of a wrong-way driver to prevent that car from hitting other oncoming cars. the deputy and the wrong-way driver both lost their lives in the crash. fellow officers as a man who wanted to make a difference. >> john made us better. he made this sheriff's office better. and he's going to be missed. >> reporter: family, friends and law enforcement officers from hillsborough county and across the bay area will attend his funeral later r today. now that funeral will begin at 1:00 this afternoon. and you can watch it live here on news channel 8. gene -- >> josh, thank you. >>> it's 4:34. happening today, closing arguments in the hulk hogan sex tape trial. terry gene bollea better known as hulk hogan is suing gawker for $100 million. the website published a sex tape showing him with a friend's ex-wife. the jury just saw videos of taped depositions with terry gene bollea. >>> and a major step by the city of tampa. city council members voted to decriminal

county deputy is being remembered by deputy john kotfila died when a wrong way driver slammed into him early this morning. >> reporter: hillsborough county deputy john kotfila junior's smile couldn't get much larger. he's pictured here with his father and brother. bonded by blood and by their careers. but now their bond has been split. >> this is a loss not only to the county sheriff's office but to all the law enforcement men and women who are trying to do their job and get home alive. >> the deputy was killed by a wrong way driver, just before 3:00 saturday morning. he was driving east along the upper selmon expressway deck when deputies say he was hit head-on. both were killed. >> that's probably the worst part of the job. we go through a lot. but when it's one of your own, it's very hard. >> the deputy had just left tampa general hospital. he had finished a traffic crash investigation and was going back to his zone. the tragic loss sent an emotional shock wave through the law enforcement field. >> the men and women are out there, trying to protect everybody, and these guys are very concerned about the drivers at night. in fact, this deputy had h

hillsborough @county sheriff's office about @the fallen deputy, john @kotfila, jr., killed by a wrong @kotfila, jr., killed by a @wrong-way driver. @it reads deputy john kotfila @2016. some people don't like to share their wifi, but at bright house networks, we do. login to one of our hotspots and get your code for free wifi at over 50,000 bright house wifi hotspots. - it's pretty amazing to think that gravity will determine how much the ocean rises and falls throughout the day. so this week on awesome planet, we'll explore the extraordinary science of tides, how they're caused, how they vary, and the impact they have on ecosystems and the planet. (soft rock music) believe it or not, some tides arrive with incredible force. that is a crazy wave! and sometimes they have the power to destroy entire coastlines. this is a pretty dramatic example of what's happening here - what can occur. - [philippe] join me, philippe cousteau, as we venture to four different places where tides make a huge impact on xploration awesome planet. each day, our oceans

deputy john cot filla. we're live with the -- jot kotfila. we're live with the latest. new fresh step with the power of febreze. . >>> this morning the bay area continues to mourn the death of deputy john kotfila. his life taken by a wrong way driver. the latest on the investigation and how the community is honoring him this morning. plus, the latest for the race for the white house. former governor sarah palin is campaigning for donald trump here in the bay area. details of the event just minutes away. good morning, i'm candace mccowan. thank you for joining us this sunday. we'll get to the top story in

say: they also 3 "john made us better, he made this program better, he makes this sheriff's office better, and he's gonna be missed." --walter hillsborough county deputy john kotfila, junior... will be laid to rest on friday. he died in the line of duty... in a selfless and remarkably brave way. 3 ((walter)) investigators and witnesses believe deputy kotfila *intentionally drove his cruiser into the path of a wrong-way driver. no one believes that more... than the woman he saved. 3 ((walter "sarah geren" was driving with her boyfriend on the selmon expressway early saturday morning... when she noticed a pair of headlights coming directly at her... the wrong way. she flashed her headlights rapidly at the vehicle... but it just kept coming. moments from impact, a deputy's cruiser came out of nowhere and swerved in front of her. the collision killed deputy kotfila. monday, sarah and her father did their best to let everyone know what a hero he is. 3 "they're just like the brothers in the military... he saved my daughter.""i was a random person on a random road, at a random time, i didn't know him and i love him for saving me. "god bless --walter 3 the driver of the w

deputy john kotfila. he died last saturday when he and a witness said he did it deliberately to save her from getting hit and many were not surprised to learn about his sacrifice. >> john is one of those people who was always there when you needed him, doesn't matter where it was or when. he would just show up and take care of things. no questions asked, no expectations of reciprocation. >> after the service, "amazing grace" played on the bagpipes as a riderless horse was led out and the draped coffin close behind and then a final salute. and finally helicopters flew overhead in what is called the "missing man" formation, you see that is to represent deputy john heavens. he will be buried back home in massachusetts. and coming up sweet revenge for a golfer. how a man was fired after heckling the golfer at the valspar championship. >> i saw my pants on fire and i said oh man, i'm done. >> he bears the scars of a stunt gone horribly wrong. >> he is talking about that scary moment and a lot of events counting on our forecast. >> we need good weather for that. there is going to be some rain move in and pet moments are beautiful, unless you have allergies. then your eyes ma