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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

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

Offender Convicted of murder

Patrolman Juan Nales 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%.

West Tampa Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Juan Nales Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

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

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

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.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518