Charles F. Turknett

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, FL

Felonious

End of Watch September 26, 1919

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Officer Charles Turknett was shot and killed by a man he was pursuing around 1:30 a.m.

Officer Turknett and two other officers were at a call box, awaiting a patrol wagon to transport a suspect they were arresting. When a car passed them, Officer Turnkett noticed a gun in the hand of one of the passengers in the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop. When the driver did not stop, Officer Turnett pursued the vehicle on horseback. At Kings Road and Johnson Street, the suspect fired at Officer Turknett, who returned fire, striking the suspect twice. Officer Turknett was transported to St. Luke's Hospital, where he passed away from three bullet wounds.

The suspect was apprehended nine hours later, suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was convicted of murder and hanged on October 17, 1919.

Officer Turknett had served with the Jacksonville Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-DDB969A6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Turknett gave the Jacksonville Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Turknett.

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

Agency

Department Jacksonville Police Department

Location Jacksonville, FL

Platform Identity jpd.duval.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1919

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Executed in 1919

Officer Charles F. Turknett is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jacksonville Police Department, 25 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this agency's fallen.

Jacksonville Police Department

of 33 officers

75.8% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious