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Tampa police lose a trailblazer to retirement

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published November 10, 2005

Tampa police Maj. Jane Siling retires next week, ending a 30-year career that saw its share of triumphs and defeats.

"Thirty years is a long time, and I've certainly experienced a lot of things, good and bad," Siling said. "Fortunately, it's been mostly good."

In 1997 Siling became the first female deputy chief in department history. Siling told reporters she felt she had "blazed a trail" for women.

Five years later, she was demoted to major for being tardy in the filing of federal grant paperwork.

Siling was among five local candidates named as finalists to replace retiring Chief Bennie Holder in 2003. The job ultimately went to Steve Hogue.

Siling's last day is Nov. 17. But she is only 55, and plans to be an active retiree.

She said she will spend more time doing volunteer work with colleges, including the University of Florida and Florida Southern College. She also wants to volunteer with hospice.

She'll miss "the people and the community" when she leaves.

"But I know I've made a difference, and I've done my very best every day that I've been here."

McNAMARA TO LEAD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: Maj. George McNamara, currently head of the patrol district that includes downtown, Ybor City and east Tampa, will replace Siling as head of the criminal investigations division that oversees the narcotics and major crimes bureaus.

Maj. Bob Guidara, recently promoted to lead the patrol district that includes New Tampa and the University of South Florida, will become head of McNamara's district. Chief Hogue has not yet chosen a major to fill Guidara's spot, McElroy said.

BADGE BOWL TO HELP BOY'S CANCER FIGHT: James Davis is only 7. For half of those years, he has tried to rid his body of cancer.

James is in the midst of his third recurrence of neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that occurs in infants and young children. First it was in his left kidney, then his brain, and now his left arm.

"It's a very nasty cancer," says his mother, Genela Davis, who also has four older children. She is single. She works as a teacher's aide at Hillsborough High School, and long ago used up her paid vacation days taking James to doctors.

Now when she has to miss work, she does it knowing her paycheck will shrink. She had to give up the family car in April because she couldn't afford it. Now she and James, a student at Roland Park Elementary, travel to his chemotherapy and radiation treatments at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital by bus or cab. Sometimes they catch a ride with friends and relatives.

"He's holding on," she said. "He's a very strong young man, and he never complains."

Local law enforcement and fire rescue workers hope to alleviate some of the family's financial woes with a football game. The fourth annual Badge Bowl, a money-raising event for families of children with cancer, will be held Nov. 12 at Wharton High.

It's firefighters vs. police officers, with kickoff at 7 p.m. Proceeds will be split between the Davis Family and a general fund that is organized by the Children's Cancer Center but doled out by the Foundation of Courage, the committee that organizes Badge Bowl.

"This child walks into a room and he's glowing," Badge Bowl organizer John Bennett, a Tampa police major, said of James. "You'd never know what he's going through."

The event raised more than $20,000 last year, said Bennett. Admission this year is $5 for adults, $1 for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at the gate, which opens at 5 p.m. There will be food and games to keep children entertained before the game. And American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra will sing during opening ceremonies.

IT KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING: Last week's marathon sentencing of former elementary school teacher Jennifer Porter, who got two years of house arrest, three years of probation and 500 hours of community service for the March 2004 hit and run that killed two siblings, could have been 20 minutes shorter.

The defense aired a taped interview with Harvard-trained psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, who evaluated Porter three times since the accident. The first 20 minutes, starting at 8:35 p.m. Friday, had van der Kolk detailing his studies, accomplishments, speeches and publication.

Lisa Wilkins, mother of the dead children, had by that time been in Judge Lamar Battles' courtroom for about 12 hours. She leaned her head against her propped-up arm, her body turned from the video screen as van der Kolk droned on. Her eyes drooped shut.

Her sister, Debra Collins, looked at her watch. It would be another five hours before the hearing ended and Porter was sentenced.

Staff writer Rebecca Catalanello contributed to this report. Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 813 226-3373 or svansickler@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 10, 2005, 01:36:56]