Margaret E. "Peggy" Park
Agency patch
Wildlife Officer

Margaret E. "Peggy" Park

Felonious
End of Watch December 13, 1984
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Wildlife Officer Margaret Park was shot and killed with her own service weapon when seizing an illegal weapon from a suspect on Keystone Road in Pinellas County. Officer Park had just finished citing a poacher when she heard gunshots coming from an undeveloped subdivision. Officer Park located a pair of men and located a handgun in their van. One of the suspects asked her not to arrest him because he was on probation for grand theft and breaking and entering. As Officer Park reached into her truck to radio dispatch, the suspect grabbed her flashlight and started hitting her on the head. Officer Park was able to call for help on the radio and fired a single shot from her weapon, grazing the second suspect, who then held her down. The first suspect then gained control of her service weapon and shot her in the back of the head as the second suspect held her down. The two fled the scene but were arrested a short time later. When caught, the first suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His co-defendant, a juvenile, was convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to seven years in prison but served only two years and ten months before being released. The shooter was executed on February 16, 2010. Officer Park had served with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission for two years.

Survivors

She was survived by her parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-040A7469
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.
Wildlife Officer Park gave the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Wildlife Officer Park.

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

Agency

Location Tallahassee, FL
Platform Identity fgfwfc.leon.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1984
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Executed in 2010

Wildlife Officer Margaret E. "Peggy" Park 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 Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
5
of 15 officers
33.3% 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. Margaret E. "Peggy" Park'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 Margaret E. "Peggy" Park Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 2010

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Margaret E. "Peggy" Park is highlighted in Dec.

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. Margaret E. "Peggy" Park 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

Incident Location