Honoring Our Fallen Officers

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Senior Investigator Kyle Patterson, 35, died June 9, 2022, from injuries sustained when a vehicle in the wrong lane struck his FWC patrol truck head on.

Senior Investigator Patterson served with the FWC for 15 years. He received numerous awards throughout his career including a Lifesaving Award in 2010; an Exceptional Performance Award in 2015; the prestigious 2018 Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Award for his involvement in a multi-jurisdictional sea turtle egg poaching case; and the 2020 FWC Team of the Year Award. To honor this fallen officer, a portion of State Route 70 was renamed Kyle Lee Patterson Memorial Way.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Officer Julian Keen Jr., 30, was shot and killed June 14, 2020, near the intersection of Nobles Road and Apache Circle in Labelle. Officer Keen, who was off duty at the time, was attempting to stop a hit-and-run suspect. The subject shot Officer Keen in the chest, fatally wounding him. The shooter was found guilty of murdering Officer Keen and sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Keen served with the FWC for four years. To honor this fallen officer, the Moore Haven Lock and Dam was renamed the Julian Keen, Jr. Lock and Dam.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Lieutenant Joseph A. Martyna, 54, died of a heart attack Nov. 16, 2008, a short time after piloting the agency's Bell 206L4 helicopter during an intense search and rescue mission in the Everglades for a missing hunter.

Lieutenant Joseph A. Martyna served with the FWC for 31 years.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Officer Michelle Lawless, 47, was killed Oct. 27, 2007, while patrolling Holey Land and Rotenberger Wildlife Management Areas. Her all-terrain vehicle struck a metal gate and overturned, trapping her underneath.

Officer Lawless served with the FWC for five years.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Lieutenant Delmar Teagan, 32, was killed April 13, 2007, when his government-issued vehicle was struck by a driver whose vehicle swerved into his path from the opposite side of the road.

Lieutenant Teagan served with the FWC for 10 years.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Officers Roy Burnsed, 25, and Charles Randall, 32, were killed when their SUV patrol vehicles crashed head-on Oct. 26, 2001, at the L-5 levee near Holey Land Wildlife Management Area. The officers were driving in opposite directions at night on a dirt road that crossed the levee in a remote area.

Officer Burnsed served with the FWC for 10 months.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Officers Charles Randall, 32, and Roy Burnsed, 25, were killed when their SUV patrol vehicles crashed head-on Oct. 26, 2001, at the L-5 levee near Holey Land Wildlife Management Area. The officers were driving in opposite directions at night on a dirt road that crossed the levee in a remote area.

Officer Randall served with the FWC for almost three years. To honor the fallen officer, an FWC offshore patrol boat was named the C.T. Randall.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Officer Ray Barnes, 31, was shot and killed Nov. 21, 1987, while attempting to arrest a subject illegally hunting deer along the Shoal River near the Okaloosa County-Walton County line.  The shooter was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Officer Barnes spent the last four years of his life serving the GFC in northwest Florida. In 1987, he earned the distinction of being one of the statewide nominees to be honored as Officer of the Year.  

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Officer Peggy Park, 26, was shot and killed Dec. 13, 1984, in a remote area while attempting to seize a handgun possessed by two subjects. When Officer Park opened the door to her patrol vehicle to radio in the information, one of the subjects grabbed her large flashlight and beat her with it. Officer Park called for help on the radio and fired a single shot from her weapon, grazing one of the subjects. The subjects then gained control of her service weapon and shot her. One suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The co-defendant, a juvenile, was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. 

Officer Park served with the GFC for two years. 

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer Danese "Dan" B. Crowder, 28, was fatally shot May 3, 1974, while attempting to arrest a subject for killing deer when the season was closed. Officer Crowder had stopped the subject’s vehicle on a rural road south of Mayo in Lafayette County when he was shot with a rifle as he stepped from his vehicle. In August 1974, the subject was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Crowder served with the GFC for nearly four years. The Commission honored him posthumously with its highest award, the Distinguished Service Citation.

Learn more about Officer Crowder through interviews, photos and historical documents.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Sergeant Jimmy Lee Cook, 32, drowned Dec. 8, 1972, patrolling Lake Lowrey for illegal trotlines. His body was located two days later, approximately 300 yards from where his boat was found running in circles. It is assumed he was thrown overboard and drowned.

Sergeant Cook served with the GFC for seven years.

Learn more about Sergeant Cook through interviews, photos and historical documents.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Sergeant Harry C. Chapin, 49, was fatally shot Nov. 5, 1972, while apprehending three subjects in Gadsden County. In response to reports of night hunting, Chapin and three other officers were patrolling State Road 90 when they heard shots. The officers were on foot patrol when they contacted three subjects in the area where the shots came from. One of the subjects shined a light toward the officers while another fired a shotgun that killed Sergeant Chapin. The other officers were unharmed and pursued the three subjects on foot. All three subjects were brothers. The youngest one, who fired the fatal shot, was convicted of second-degree murder and another brother was convicted of manslaughter.

Sergeant Chapin served with the GFC for over 22 years. He survived a shooting in December 1958 like the one that took his life because his leather gun belt and flashlight deflected the buckshot. In 1962, he was recognized as Florida’s Outstanding Wildlife Officer of the Year. In 1973, a fund known as the Harry C. Chapin Memorial Foundation was created in his honor.

Learn more about Sergeant Chapin through interviews, photos and historical documents.

Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer Leon Walker, 52, was killed in the line of duty Aug. 13, 1970, when his patrol vehicle crashed while pursuing illegal night hunters in Columbia County. 

Officer Walker served with the GFC for 17 years. 

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer James “Jimmy” Thompson, 32, was electrocuted June 25, 1968, while working on an airboat in Fort Lauderdale.

Officer Thompson served with the GFC for 11 years.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer Marvin “Dickie” Albritton, 38, was killed Aug. 18, 1966, when his heart was punctured by a bow hook when a rope broke while he was loading his patrol boat onto a trailer.

Board of Conservation Lieutenant Melvin Davis, 50, drowned June 25, 1961, while on patrol near Captiva Island. He was pulled overboard when a boat anchor rope coiled around his leg and then became fouled in the motorboat propeller.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer Bud Smith, 31, was killed Nov. 30, 1954, in an automobile accident while pursuing a subject on U.S. 441 near Pompano.  

Officer Smith served with the GFC for 10 years.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer James Fields, 55, was shot and killed Dec. 24, 1950, after he and his partner encountered two poachers who were illegally hunting at night on the Apalachicola River near Blountstown. One of the subjects fled when the officers approached, with Officer Fields in pursuit. The subject took up a concealed position in the darkness and shot Officer Fields twice when he came near. The subject was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.  

Officer Fields served with the GFC for four years.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) Wildlife Officer George Sharp was killed Dec. 21, 1946, in an airplane crash in the Everglades while conducting an aerial patrol for poachers illegally spotlighting deer.

Office Sharp served with the GFC for five years.

Game Warden Guy Bradley, 35, was shot and killed July 8, 1905, while attempting to arrest individuals in the Everglades suspected of poaching egrets to supply plumage for women’s hats. His killer was not convicted.

Warden Bradley, who was hired by the Audubon Society and deputized by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, served for three years. In memory of his bravery and sacrifice, the Audubon Society established the Guy Bradley Award that is presented annually to wildlife officers for exceptional service.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) K-9 Gus died Aug. 1, 2013, after inhaling a foreign object while successfully performing a track for a missing woman in Hillsborough River State Park.

K-9 Gus served with the FWC for four years.