James W. Williams

Orlando Police Department — Orlando, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 1, 1876

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Town Marshal James Williams was shot and killed in October 1875 by an off-duty Orange County Sheriff's deputy who was drunk at a town gathering. The deputy was one of the louder party-goers and Marshal Williams attempted to quiet him down. The deputy was upset that another law enforcement officer did not respect him and subsequently shot him as Marshal Williams attempted to stop him from leaving on his horse. The subject ultimately escaped and was never captured. Marshal Williams succumbed to his gunshot wounds in January 1876. The exact dates of the incident and his death are unknown. Marshal Williams had only been elected to Town Marshal two months prior to the incident. He was a veteran of the Confederate Army.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-178C6738
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 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.
Town Marshal Williams served with the Orlando Police Department.
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 Orlando Police Department

Location Orlando, FL

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1876

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Never captured

Military Service

James W. Williams served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Town Marshal James W. Williams 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 Orlando Police Department, 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Orlando Police Department

of 16 officers

62.5% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious