Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Jefferson Kurtz was shot and killed while he and the sheriff of Putnam County attempted to arrest a man who had been in a shootout with another man in Ormond Beach. The suspect was located in a cabin in the Ormond Beach community of Leberia. The two sheriffs waited there as a deputy returned to town to obtain a warrant. As nightfall approached the two sheriffs decided that they needed to arrest the suspect to prevent him from fleeing. During the arrest Sheriff Kurtz was shot in the chest and fatally wounded. The other sheriff was able to return fire and struck the suspect three times, killing him. Sheriff Kurtz had a brother and a nephew who were also killed in the line of duty while serving the Volusia County Sheriff's Department. His brother, Deputy Charles Kurtz, was shot and killed on September 3, 1907, and his nephew, Deputy William Kremer, was shot and killed on December 10, 1898. Sheriff Kurtz had served in law enforcement for seven years including four years with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his father, two sisters and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-40E54718- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Kurtz gave the Volusia County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the DeLand community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jefferson Davis Kurtz 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 Volusia County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jefferson Davis Kurtz's cause is highlighted.
How Jefferson Davis Kurtz Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jefferson Davis Kurtz is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jefferson Davis Kurtz was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Volusia County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
