Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Thomas Szafranski was shot and killed by a sniper with a high-powered rifle while sitting in his patrol car near Davis Street and Sixth Street. The sniper shot him in the head in the unprovoked attack. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed on March 24th, 1998. Officer Szafranski had served with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-53170A62- 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.
Officer Szafranski gave the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Szafranski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Thomas Joseph Szafranski 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 Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, 11 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Joseph Szafranski's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Joseph Szafranski Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1998
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Joseph Szafranski is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Joseph Szafranski was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
