Largo, May 16, 2011 – Critical Intervention Services (CIS), Tampa Bay’s leading provider of protective services and security solutions, is saddened to announce the murder of Protection Officer Mathew Little early this morning. CIS is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful conviction of the individual(s) responsible for this tragedy.
CIS dispatchers contacted St. Petersburg Police Department when they couldn’t get Officer Little to respond to radio calls as he patrolled Mariner’s Pointe Apartments in St. Petersburg. CIS was notified at approximately 2am that St. Petersburg Police Dept had found Officer Little’s body.
CIS is cooperating with the St. Petersburg Police Department who have been very sympathetic and supportive in their investigation and dealings with CIS personnel. CIS has over 300 officers and support staff, all of who are shocked by this killing, the first of its kind in the agency’s 19 year history.
Officer Little normally worked the 15th Street corridor in the USF area of Tampa. He was in St Pete covering a shift for a fellow officer who had been deployed for military reserve duty, along with approximately 30 other CIS officers. Officer Little had covered this shift before and was familiar with the area.
What makes CIS unique is the amount of time officers spend developing relationships with the residents of the communities it protects. It is these relationships that make it possible for one officer to patrol a whole area. Residents know that CIS is there to protect their community. If the individual(s) who did this, attacked a trained security officer, they might not hesitate to attack an unarmed citizen. It is important that area residents step up to assist if they have information.
K.C. Poulin, CEO/President of CIS, had this to say about Officer Little, “Mathew was a 2 year veteran of CIS who took pride in the de-escalation techniques he used to diffuse emotionally charged situations. He was well liked and respected by the community he served and by the CIS family. He was the type of officer who had no problem covering when needed. He will be missed. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family, and our CIS family, as we all deal with this senseless tragedy.”
CIS is offering a $10,000 reward, and Private Officer International is offering a $2,500 reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) who committed this horrendous crime. Anyone with information should contact Detective Tower with the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780.