David William L. Mizell

Orange County Sheriff's Office — Orlando, FL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 21, 1870

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 3 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 20

Incident

Sheriff David Mizell was shot and killed after being ambushed while trying to settle a dispute over the sale of several head of cattle. Sheriff Mizell set out with his son and another man to locate the suspects. As they were crossing a stream they were ambushed and Sheriff Mizell was mortally wounded. As he lay dying in his son's arms he asked that his death not be avenged. Nevertheless, a posse was formed and captured the suspected triggerman. He was tied to a plowshare and tossed over the side of a boat. When he failed to sink the posse shot and killed him in a volley of rifle fire. Sheriff Mizell had previously served with the confederate army during the Civil War and was survived by his wife and five children. He is buried in the Mizell Family Graveyard in Orlando, Florida.

Survivors

Sheriff Mizell had previously served with the confederate army during the Civil War and was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-54C3DF53
Stewardship: 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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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.
Sheriff Mizell served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando 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 Orange County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Orlando, Orange County, FL

Platform Identity ocso.orange.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1870

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

David William L. Mizell served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sheriff David William L. Mizell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Orange County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.4% of this agency's fallen.

Orange County Sheriff's Office

of 21 officers

52.4% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious