Anthony Wayne Williams

Tampa Police Dept. — Tampa, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 3, 1975

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Patrolman Anthony Williams was shot and killed while off duty when he interrupted an armed robbery at a convenience store at the intersection of West Hillsborough Avenue and Hesperides Street in Tampa. A reserve deputy from a neighboring agency was in the back room, waiting to make an arrest attempt. The reserve deputy hid in the back room when he noticed a robbery was going to happen. At the same time, Patrolman Williams, who was off duty, arrived at the scene with his wife, also a Tampa police officer and who was still in uniform, after getting off duty. As she stayed in the car with their 4-year-old son, Patrolman Williams attempted to enter the store when he saw the robbery taking place. He yelled to his wife to toss him her service revolver. As he retrieved the revolver, the gunman stepped out and shot him. As the gunman ran, Officer Williams' wife retrieved her revolver and shot him in the buttocks. The reserve deputy shot and killed a second suspect as he ran out the door and then took custody of the third suspect. Both suspects were charged with murder and robbery. The 22-year-old gunman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1991 his sentence was commuted to life. As of November 22nd, 2020, he was still in prison. The third suspect was sentenced to life. Patrolman Williams was a Vietnam War Veteran.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-976D1DCD
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.
Patrolman Williams served with the Tampa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa 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

Department Tampa Police Dept.

Location Tampa, FL

Platform Identity tpd.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 3, 1975

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender 1 shot and killed; 2 sentenced to life

Military Service

Anthony Wayne Williams served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Anthony Wayne Williams 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 Tampa Police Dept., 21 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.4% of this agency's fallen.

Tampa Police Dept.

of 29 officers

72.4% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious