Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Juan Nales

West Tampa Police Department — Tampa, FL

Felonious

End of Watch July 18, 1920

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Juan Nales was shot and killed while walking a prisoner to jail. He and another officer had arrested the man after responding to reports of a suspicious person.

As the three walked to jail the man attacked Patrolman Nales. He was able to gain control of Patrolman Nales' service weapon and fatally shot him before fleeing on foot. The suspect was convicted of murder and sent to prison.

Patrolman Nales was survived by his expectant wife and 13-month-old daughter.

The city of West Tampa was annexed by Tampa in 1925.

Survivors

Patrolman Nales was survived by his expectant wife and 13-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-FC6644DE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Nales served with the West Tampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Nales.

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

Agency

Department West Tampa Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Tampa, FL

Platform Identity wtpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 18, 1920

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman Juan Nales 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%.

West Tampa Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Juan Nales's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Juan Nales Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Juan Nales is highlighted in Jul.

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. Juan Nales was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from West Tampa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.