James J. Goodson

St. Petersburg Police Department — St. Petersburg, FL

Felonious

End of Watch December 25, 1947

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Officer Goodson was killed while assisting another officer. Officer Goodson was checking a bar on 22 Street South in St. Petersburg when another officer observed a man in possession of a pistol outside. Hearing a struggle, Officer Goodson went outside to assist the other officer as he struggled with the suspect for possession of the gun. During the struggle the suspect fired the gun hitting Officer Goodson twice. He died of his wounds early on the following morning, Christmas Day 1947. The 35-year-old suspect was later arrested in Pinellas Park. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On March 26, 1950, he and three other inmates escaped from the state prison farm in Bell Glade. He was captured by a police officer and a FBI agent in Syracuse, New York, on June 10, 1952.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-123F360E
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 Goodson served with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Petersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Goodson.

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

Agency

Department St. Petersburg Police Department

Location St. Petersburg, FL

Platform Identity sppd.pinellas.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1947

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Sentenced to life

Officer James J. Goodson 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 St. Petersburg Police Department, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

St. Petersburg Police Department

of 16 officers

75% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious