Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Read was met with a shotgun blast as he stepped out of his car at a rural residence eight miles north of Bell. He went there to investigate a complaint from neighbors who said the 60 year-old home owner was drunk and terrorizing people with a gun. Sheriff Read was able to call for help and drove away from the home. A short distance away he was found by a local citizen after he drove into a ditch. He died at the hospital several hours later. The suspect was taken into custody by Florida State Troopers at his home. He was convicted of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair June 1, 1959.
Survivors
Sheriff Read was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-3965E15D- 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.
Sheriff Read served with the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Trenton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Read.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Mark Read 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%.
At Gilchrist County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark Read's cause is highlighted.
How Mark Read Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark Read is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mark Read was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Gilchrist County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
