Willie R. Denson

Daytona Beach Police Department — Daytona Beach, FL

Felonious

End of Watch April 30, 1937

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 73 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Officer Willie Denson was shot and killed with his own service revolver shortly after arresting a suspect.

He had placed the suspect in his patrol car but the man began to struggle with the officer. The suspect was able to gain control of Officer Denson's service weapon and shot him.

The 21-year-old suspect was was apprehended two weeks later in Lynchburg, Virginia.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-A796320C
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.
Officer Denson served with the Daytona Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Daytona Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Denson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Daytona Beach Police Department

Location Daytona Beach, FL

Platform Identity dbpd.volusia.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1937

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Apprehended

Officer Willie R. Denson 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 Daytona Beach Police Department, 8 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.7% of this agency's fallen.

Daytona Beach Police Department

of 11 officers

72.7% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious