In Memoriam


Gordon Elmer Stotz was hired as a Police Officer on January 12, 1953. He was killed in an automobile accident on March 28, 1956 when his police unit left the roadway while in pursuit of a speeding vehicle that was fleeing to elude apprehension.		Johnnie Patterson, Jr. was hired as a Police Officer on June 24, 1996. He was shot and killed while in foot pursuit of a suspect that ran from him after a vehicle traffic stop on March 8, 1997.

Listed below are those members who died while
employed by the Winter Haven Police Department:

Officer Gordon Elmer Stotz	(01/12/53 - 03/28/56)
Officer Joel Wilburn	(09/01/54 - 02/15/72)
Lieutenant John F. Kerr	(06/02/70 - 09/28/77)
Lieutenant Wayne S. Rogers	(09/01/51 - 10/30/77)
Lieutenant James “Schoolboy” Tugerson	(11/01/56 - 04/07/83)
Officer Dale Hofmeister	(03/14/83 - 12/25/83)
Records Clerk Gloria Byrd	(04/04/88 - 04/29/89)
Lieutenant James P. “Tuff” Tofanelli	(03/19/73 - 04/11/96)
Officer Johnnie N. Patterson, Jr.	(06/24/96 - 03/08/97)
Officer Corey Bacon	(02/02/98 - 03/09/02)
Court Liaison Officer Brenda Barrentine	(10/08/84 - 03/31/02)
Records Clerk Patricia Denham	(01/29/90 - 11/19/04)
Officer Frank Storey	(08/01/94 - 01/17/07)