Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Bob Gatlin was shot and killed while executing a search warrant.
Sheriff Gatlin and a Deputy went to an establishment with a search warrant to investigate reports of illegal shipments of whiskey. The storekeeper led the Sheriff and the Deputy to the back of the store, then attacked them. Sheriff Gatlin drew his weapon, but the subject was able to gain control of the weapon and shoot Sheriff Catlin and his deputy. The suspect was apprehended by a state trooper the next day after he found him hiding in an outhouse. The deputy recovered from his wounds.
The suspect was found guilty of Sheriff Gatlin's murder and sentenced to life. Upon appeal, he was tried again, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. The Florida Supreme Court overturned the second conviction, and he was again found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years. On July 21, 1945, he was released from prison after his conviction was overturned a third time.
Sheriff Gatlin had served with the Walton County Sheriff's Officer for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-287E9F7B- 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.
Sheriff Gatlin gave the Walton County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the DeFuniak Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Gatlin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Robert E. Gatlin 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 Walton County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert E. Gatlin's cause is highlighted.
How Robert E. Gatlin Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1945
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert E. Gatlin is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert E. Gatlin was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Walton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
