Roll of Honor
Austin Dewey Gay
Incident
Location: Georgia Weapon: Handgun Offender: Six suspects convicted
Inspector Austin Gay was shot and killed after being abducted from his inspection station on U.S. 441 south of the Florida - Georgia border.
Seven days later, his body was located on a farm in Brooks County, Georgia, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. His body had been stripped of his uniform and duty weapon.
The previous month another inspector at a nearby station had been abducted after discovering a load of marijuana being smuggled by a group of corrupt police officers from Chicago, Illinois. The group had handcuffed the inspector to a tree in a remote area and left him for dead, but he was found about eight hours later unharmed.
The corrupt officers then hired a hitman to murder that inspector to prevent him from testifying. The hitman mistook Inspector Gay for the other inspector, abducted him, and murdered him.
In 1983 the six corrupt Chicago police officers were convicted of charges in connection with Inspector Gay's murder. The alleged hitman was acquitted of the charges.
Inspector Gay had served with the Florida Department of Agriculture as a road guard inspector for 14 years.
Thank you for your service. RIP
Ginger Beck March 25th, 2022
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-384DB340- 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 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.
Inspector Gay gave the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee 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
Austin Dewey Gay served in the Army (1940) before joining law enforcement.
Inspector Austin Dewey Gay 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 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, 1 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Austin Dewey Gay's cause is highlighted.
How Austin Dewey Gay Compares
Offender Outcome
Six suspects convicted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Austin Dewey Gay is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Austin Dewey Gay was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement are honored on badge.nw.
