Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Mike Altman was shot and killed while responding to investigate suspicious activity at the home of the Jackson County sheriff.
The wife of the sheriff, who was also a civilian employee of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, was arriving home from the grocery store and talking on a radio phone with her husband when she noticed a man following her into her driveway. She notified the sheriff, who immediately alerted field units to respond to his home.
Deputy Altman was the first unit to arrive at the home. He found that the sheriff's wife had been shot and killed. The two killers, armed with three handguns, then opened fire on Deputy Altman, killing him.
The sheriff and two deputies arrived at the scene moments later and engaged the killers in a gun battle. Both assailants were shot and killed.
One of the killers was also a suspect in the 2001 murder of his own wife, a case that the Jackson County Sheriff's Office investigated. It is believed that the suspect targeted the sheriff and his wife because civil litigation involving the life insurance of the murdered wife was recently dismissed by a judge. Deputies found ammunition, latex gloves, bleach, vinegar, handcuffs, duct tape, and trash bags inside the killer's vehicle. In addition, both killers wore disguises which included wigs and glued-on mustaches.
Deputy Altman had served with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, stepdaughter, stepson, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-2A0D4F33- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Altman gave the Jackson County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Marianna community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Altman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Harold Michael Altman 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 Jackson County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold Michael Altman's cause is highlighted.
How Harold Michael Altman Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold Michael Altman is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold Michael Altman was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Jackson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
