Henry R. Lett
Police Officer

Henry R. Lett

Tampa Police Department — Tampa, FL
Felonious
End of Watch September 24, 1922
Age 46
The Vigil Panel 43 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Henry Lett was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to arrest a man for disorderly conduct. The officers had responded to a call of a man threatening to shoot a woman. As they approached him he ran into an alley and drew his weapon. Officer Lett returned fire at the same time and both were wounded. Officer Lett later succumbed to his wounds. During the suspect's trial his attorney argued that his client did not have a gun and he was being framed by five witnesses. He was acquitted.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-1ADB967E
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.
Police Officer Lett served with the Tampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lett.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL
Platform Identity tpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 24, 1922
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Police Officer Henry R. Lett 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 97,772 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 Tampa Police Department, 21 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.4% of this agency's fallen.

Tampa Police Department
21
of 29 officers
72.4% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry R. Lett's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Henry R. Lett Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry R. Lett is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry R. Lett was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909