Incident
Trooper Joseph Bullock was shot and killed at approximately 10:15 while assisting a disabled vehicle on I-95 just north of the interstate rest area in Martin County.
He stopped to assist the motorist whose vehicle had become stuck on a swale. He had positioned his patrol car behind the vehicle and completed paperwork for approximately one hour while the motorist waited for a tow truck to remove the vehicle. During this time Trooper Bullock had several normal interactions with the motorist.
Once the tow truck driver arrived the man became upset with the cost of having the vehicle towed. He calmly walked back to Trooper Bullock’s vehicle and, without warning, drew a handgun and fatally shot him in the head.
The man then attempted to shoot the tow truck driver, but his gun jammed, allowing the tow truck driver to run to safety. The tow truck driver was able to get the attention of an off-duty Riviera Beach detective who was driving into work.
The detective fatally shot the subject after the man confronted him and pointed the gun at him.
Trooper Bullock was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-A89CA7D2- 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.
Trooper Bullock gave the Florida Highway Patrol 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Thank you 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
Joseph Jon Bullock served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Trooper Joseph Jon Bullock 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 Florida Highway Patrol, 23 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Jon Bullock's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Jon Bullock Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Jon Bullock is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Jon Bullock was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Joseph Jon Bullock served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph Jon Bullock’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
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