Roll of Honor
Gordon Elmer Stotz
Incident
Patrol Officer Gordon Stotz was killed in an automobile crash while pursuing another vehicle on the Lucerne Park Road, near Flornce Villa , shortly before midnight. He and his partner had observed a vehicle speeding near Avenue One, NW, and began to pursue it, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. The patrol car that Officer Stotz was riding in left the roadway and struck a large oak tree, causing him to be ejected. The officer who was driving sustained serious injuries. The vehicle being pursued also crashed nearby and the occupants were taken into custody. Officer Stotz was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII and had served with the Winter Haven Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-10E96CEA- 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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Gordon 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.
Patrol Officer Stotz gave the Winter Haven Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community, and 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
Gordon Elmer Stotz served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Patrol Officer Gordon Elmer Stotz is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Winter Haven Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon Elmer Stotz's cause is highlighted.
How Gordon Elmer Stotz Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon Elmer Stotz is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Military Service
Gordon Elmer Stotz served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Gordon Elmer Stotz’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Winter Haven Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
