Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

Frank Dean Genovese

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office — West Palm Beach, FL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 3, 1982

Age 26

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 277 · Column 1 · Line 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 22

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Frank Genovese was shot and killed while participating in a SWAT team operation during a standoff with an armed suspect on 10th Lane in Greenacres. The suspect, who had set his furniture on fire and was threatening to blow up his apartment, surrendered to police after a four-hour siege. Although the suspect had fired at officers, he was acquitted on December 14th, 1984, after his attorney convinced a jury that an officer's return fire may have killed Deputy Genovese. Six months later, the suspect was charged with the attempted murder of a Miami police officer during a wild chase. The pursuit ended when he plowed his Corvette into four police cars at a roadblock, injuring one officer. On March 18th, 1988, he was charged with numerous firearms violations, including the sale and possession of machine guns, after his arrest by ATF agents and Miami Police Department detectives. Deputy Genovese was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department for 16 months. Before that, he served with the Daytona Beach Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and parents. Deputy Genovese was posthumously presented with the Medal of Honor on September 13th, 1982.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtmx9e5jb00jw855qs73g
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Frank. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Frank is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Genovese gave the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the West Palm Beach community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL

Platform Identity pbcso.palmbeach.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 3, 1982

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 4 mo

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Frank Dean Genovese served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Frank is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1982, 122 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Frank was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 3.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded