William T. Barnett

Lakeland Police Department — Lakeland, FL

Felonious

End of Watch March 27, 1932

The Vigil Panel 64 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman William Barnett and Patrolman Thomas Nicholson were shot and killed after they responded to a domestic disturbance in North Lakeland. The two officers were struggling with two men when they shot and killed both officers. Other officers arrived at the scene and took both men into custody. It was later determined that both suspects used the same gun and each killed one officer. Both suspects, 21 and 66, were convicted of Patrolman Nicholson's and Patrolman Barnett's murder and sentenced to death. Both appealed and were granted new trials. The older suspect was again convicted of murder but sentenced to life. He applied for a pardon on February 7, 1936. At the other suspect's second trial a witness said he saw him with pistol but never actually saw him shoot Patrolman Barnett. Several other witnesses said he told them that he did kill Patrolman Barnett. He was acquitted. The jury said there was not enough evidence for a conviction. On June 13, 1934, he was arrested for carrying concealed weapons and was in a very intoxicated condition. Because of recent problems, the state sanity commission declared him insane and he was sent to the Tallahassee State Mental Hospital. He escaped from the Chattahoochee State Mental Hospital along with another inmate on July 12, 1942. Days later both robbed and beat a man to death in Levi County. Both were apprehended along with his wife and another couple in Orlando. He admitted to the murder along with four other unsolved murders he was charged with in Miami. He was declared sane and executed in the electric chair on November 22, 1943.

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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.
Patrolman Barnett served with the Lakeland Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lakeland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Barnett.

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

Agency

Department Lakeland Police Department

Type Other

Location Lakeland, Polk County, FL

Platform Identity lpd.polk.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 27, 1932

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrolman William T. Barnett 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 Lakeland Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lakeland Police Department

of 6 officers

50% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious