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Incident
Officer Wilbert Wiggins suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to hook up a trailer to a police truck.
He and several officers were preparing to conduct a traffic operation on a local interstate, and Officer Wiggins was preparing some of the equipment. He collapsed as he was pulling a trailer towards the police truck. Other officers located him on the ground next to the truck after he failed to arrive at the location of the traffic operation. He was taken to a local hospital, where he passed away the following day.
Officer Wiggins was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for 41 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Wilbert is one person.
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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.
Officer Wiggins gave the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office 41 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wilbert Wiggins Sr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has lost 30 officers; 5 of them lost to cardiac events.
Wilbert is one of 62 officers lost to cardiac events in FL, 6.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Wilbert is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Wilbert is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2002, 1 officer at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
In 2002, 2 officers in FL were lost to cardiac events, the 6th heaviest of 39 years on record. The heaviest was 2017, with 4.
In 2002, 13 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 43rd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2002, 13 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 43rd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Wilbert was 66. Of the 4 lost to cardiac events at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 46.5 and 53.3; the middle age was 48. Wilbert had served 41 years; the middle length of service was 23 years.
Wilbert was 66. Of the 61 lost to cardiac events in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 49. Wilbert had served 41 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
Wilbert was 66. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Wilbert had served 41 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Wilbert was 66. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Wilbert had served 41 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
November holds 20% of these deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 20%.
November holds 9.7% of these deaths in FL; May holds the most, 19.4%. Fridays: 21%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Fridays: 15.8%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.8%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 16.7% of all 30 deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 6.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has 30 officers remembered here, Wilbert among them.
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David Henry Reese
Feb 28, 1970
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James Homer Moon
Sep 27, 1971
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Edward James Parker
Feb 6, 1972
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Glenn A. Rainey, Sr.
Aug 23, 1974
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Michael David Stewart
Apr 27, 1975
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Ronald Dale Florence
Jan 8, 1979
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Fred L. Lucy
Jan 8, 1979
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Charles A. Thompson, III Jan 8, 1979
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Martin Edward Slater
Feb 21, 1981
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Thomas Joseph Szafranski
May 24, 1981
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Frederick Albert McCall Feb 7, 1982
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Gary Bevel
May 17, 1983
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Jeffrey Norman Ritchey
Feb 23, 1987
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Charles Ray Shinholser, Jr.
Dec 14, 1988
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Warren Corway Sanders
Jul 26, 1990
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Fred G. Lampe
May 2, 1994
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Lonnie C. Miller, Sr.
May 6, 1995
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Ira Wayne Bramlitt
May 22, 1995
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Joseph Bruce Burtner
Dec 12, 1995
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James Ward
Oct 17, 1996
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John Lee Butler, Sr.
Mar 10, 1997
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Michael Harley Boynton
Oct 9, 1998
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Wilbert Wiggins, Sr.
Nov 8, 2002
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Scott Eric Bell
Oct 12, 2007
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Christopher Michael Kane
Sep 4, 2008
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Mark Hayden Larson
Mar 24, 2014
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Lance Christian Whitaker
May 15, 2018
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Christopher Michael Cunningham, Sr.
Aug 5, 2020
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Louis Michael Livatino
Jan 27, 2021
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Bradford D. McNew
Oct 12, 2024
Where
Military Service
Wilbert Wiggins Sr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Wilbert Wiggins Sr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
