“All Gave Some, Some Gave All”
Police Officer David Richard Van Curler
West Palm Beach Police Department
Officer Van Curler and Officer William Fletcher were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance at a local bank at 45th Street and Broadway. The bank manager had called after hours to report a man pounding on the doors and yelling to be let in.…
Read MoreOfficer Van Curler and Officer William Fletcher were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance at a local bank at 45th Street and Broadway. The bank manager had called after hours to report a man pounding on the doors and yelling to be let in. After arriving Officer Fletcher contacted the employees of the bank and then went to talk to the man who was still in front of the bank. The man continued to shout and cause as a disturbance as Officer Fletcher tried to talk to him. Because portable radios were not used at the time Officer Fletcher returned to his cruiser to call for backup.
As Officer Fletcher completed his transmission the man began walking towards him and met him at the curb. The man then struck him and knocked him down. During the ensuing struggle the suspect gained control of Officer Fletcher’s revolver and shot him twice. At that moment Officer Van Curler arrived on his motorcycle. The suspect immediately opened fire, shooting through the motorcycle’s windshield and striking Officer Van Curler in the chest. After walking over to Officer Van Curler the suspect then attempted to shoot him again but the gun was empty. He then took Officer Van Curler’s weapon. Officer Fletcher had managed to get to his feet but the suspect shot him again with Officer Van Curler’s weapon, fatally wounding him. Other officers arrived on the scene and took the suspect into custody. The suspect was commited to a mental hospital where he later died.
Police Officer Clarence Leo Wagner
West Palm Beach Police Department
Officer Wagner was killed in a motorcycle accident when another vehicle made a left hand turn in front of his motorcycle. He was responding to an accident with injuries call with his lights and sirens activated when the accident took place.…
Read MoreOfficer Wagner was killed in a motorcycle accident when another vehicle made a left hand turn in front of his motorcycle. He was responding to an accident with injuries call with his lights and sirens activated when the accident took place. The driver of the other vehicle was charged with causing an accident by failing to yield right-of-way. Officer Wagner had been with the agency for two years.
Sergeant James Stephen Fogleman
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant James Fogleman was killed in an automobile accident while transporting a critically injured child to the hospital. He was involved in a single vehicle crash while en route. After being transported to the hospital he refused treatment until the child and his mother were treated first.…
Read MoreSergeant James Fogleman was killed in an automobile accident while transporting a critically injured child to the hospital. He was involved in a single vehicle crash while en route. After being transported to the hospital he refused treatment until the child and his mother were treated first.
As he sat in a chair doing paperwork he collapsed. It was later determined that his gun had impaled his spleen, causing him to bleed to death.
Sergeant Fogleman was survived by his expectant wife and two children.
Police Officer Festus Alvah Tatum , Jr.
West Palm Beach Police Department
Officer Tatum was killed in a motorcycle accident while escorting a funeral procession on Parker Avenue. The last car in the procession had just cleared an intersection and Officer Tatum was passing the procession to clear the next intersection. As he did so a boy riding a motor scooter pulled out of Hampton Road, passing through the procession, and collided with Officer Tatum.…
Read MoreOfficer Tatum was killed in a motorcycle accident while escorting a funeral procession on Parker Avenue. The last car in the procession had just cleared an intersection and Officer Tatum was passing the procession to clear the next intersection. As he did so a boy riding a motor scooter pulled out of Hampton Road, passing through the procession, and collided with Officer Tatum. He was thrown into a tree and suffered severe head injuries.
Officer Tatum had served with the agency for 4 years.
Police Officer Lewis Allen Conner
West Palm Beach Police Department
Officer Conner was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to question a man in connection with a burglary. Officer Conner was covering the rear of the house as the other officer went to the front door. When the officer in the front heard a shot fired he ran to the rear of the house where he engaged the suspect in a foot pursuit. The suspect was able to evade apprehension and the officer ran back to the house where he found Officer Conner suffering a gunshot wound the head. Officer Conner was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wound.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 9, 1937.
Officer Conner had been with the agency for 12 years.
Police Officer Jack Grace Wadlington
West Palm Beach Police Department
Officer Wadlington was struck by a vehicle and killed while directing traffic during the city’s annual Sun Dance Festival. He was working an extra duty assignment when the incident occured.
Officer Wadlington was a WWI veteran and had been with the agency for nine years. He was survived by his wife.
Police Officer William Morgan Payton
West Palm Beach Police Department
Patrolman Payton was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect.
Deputy Sheriff Frederick A. Baker
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Frederick Baker was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a group of fugitives in the Everglades, 25 miles north of West Palm Beach. The gang was wanted for crimes spanning several years, including the murders of Deputy Wilber Hendrickson, of the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, and Officer John Riblet, of the Miami Police Department, on June 2, 1915.
Deputy Baker was leading a posse when they entered the fugitive gang’s camp. As the posse entered the camp, the fugitives opened fire. Deputy Baker and one of the suspects were killed in the shootout.
The remaining fugitives fled into the swamp as their hideout was burned to the ground. On November 1, 1924, the four remaining members of the gang were shot and killed when a posse located them in St. Lucie County.
Deputy Sheriff George Clem Douglas
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy George Douglas was shot and killed while he and his son attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a man at Bare Beach in the Glades area. Both Deputy Douglas and his son were shot but only Deputy Douglas died as a result.
Deputy Douglas had served the agency for just one year. He was survived by his wife and 3 children.
