Roll of Honor
Myrle Atacus Whidden
Incident
Constable Myrle Whidden succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a man who was beating his wife in Mulberry.
He had responded to the domestic disturbance call and observed the man beating his wife. Although Constable Whidden was unarmed, he attempted to intervene but the man shot him in the chest and arm. Despite his wounds, Constable Whidden overpowered the man, arrested him, and walked him to jail.
Constable Whidden then went to the hospital where he died on his 42nd birthday.
The man who shot Constable Whidden was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.
Constable Whidden was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and was the recipient of a Croix de Guerre. He had served in law enforcement for 17 years. He had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and as a peace officer for the Mosaic Corporation prior to being elected as the constable for Polk County District Thirteen.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, father, two brothers, and one sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-D73A1125- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Myrle is one person.
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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.
Constable Whidden gave the Polk County District Thirteen Constable's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lakeland community. 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
Myrle Atacus Whidden served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Constable Myrle Atacus Whidden 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 97,756 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Myrle Atacus Whidden's cause is highlighted.
How Myrle Atacus Whidden Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Myrle Atacus Whidden is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Myrle Atacus Whidden was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Military Service
Myrle Atacus Whidden served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Myrle Atacus Whidden’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Polk County District Thirteen Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.