Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Clarence Till was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was causing a disturbance in a coffee shop. During the initial arrest attempt the man along with four of his drunken friends were able to disarm Officer Till. Officer Till then went to the mayor's house and obtained two more pistols. When he and the mayor returned to the scene to arrest the man he was shot several times by the suspect who had setup an ambush from a hiding spot. The mayor returned fire wounding the suspect. The suspect was arrested the next day at his home by the Monroe County Sheriff. On November 30, 1904, the suspect was convicted of Officer Till's murder and sentenced to death. In April of 1906 he was released on bail after the Florida Supreme Court overturned his conviction and ruled that he could only be tried for manslaughter. On December 6, 1907, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in the county jail. While serving his sentence he was implicated in the robbery and arson of a cigar factory in Key West. On May 19, 1908, he was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to 13 years in prison. On October 21, 1909, he escaped from the Florida Penitentiary and went into hiding in a remote area of Monroe County. He went to work for a farmer who had him killed on October 17, 1910, so he would not have to pay him. Officer Till served with the US Army during the Spanish American War and was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and a brother. He is buried in an unknown grave in Key West Cemetery in Key West, Florida.
Survivors
Officer Till served with the US Army during the Spanish American War and was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-F510DD3B- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Clarence. Claim this record.
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.
Officer Till served with the Key West Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Key West 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Clarence K. Till served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Clarence K. Till 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 Key West Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence K. Till's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence K. Till Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 1 year
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence K. Till is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence K. Till was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Key West Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
