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James J. Goodson
Agency patch
Officer

James J. Goodson

St. Petersburg Police Department — St. Petersburg, FL
Felonious
United States flag Florida flag
End of Watch December 25, 1947
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 84 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 15

Incident

Officer Goodson was killed while assisting another officer. Officer Goodson was checking a bar on 22 Street South in St. Petersburg when another officer observed a man in possession of a pistol outside. Hearing a struggle, Officer Goodson went outside to assist the other officer as he struggled with the suspect for possession of the gun. During the struggle the suspect fired the gun hitting Officer Goodson twice. He died of his wounds early on the following morning, Christmas Day 1947. The 35-year-old suspect was later arrested in Pinellas Park. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On March 26, 1950, he and three other inmates escaped from the state prison farm in Bell Glade. He was captured by a police officer and a FBI agent in Syracuse, New York, on June 10, 1952.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-V0M5-T7AY-R earlier record number BO-US-FL-123F360E
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Goodson served with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Petersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Goodson.

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

Agency

Department St. Petersburg Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL
Platform Identity sppd.pinellas.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1947
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1947, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 38. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Petersburg Police Department has 16 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Officer James J. Goodson

St. Petersburg Police Department · End of Watch December 25, 1947

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E

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