Roll of Honor
Incident
Inspector John Morgan was shot and killed during a raid of a liquor still at a farm several miles from Hosford, Liberty County.
During the raid, the officers arrested one suspect. Inspector Morgan's partner went to search the barn and, as Inspector Morgan guarded the prisoner, he was shot in the back. The owner of the farm was later arrested for his murder.
The suspect, a very wealthy and popular farmer, said he was somewhere else when Inspector Morgan was shot. At his murder trial the jurors wanted to acquit him before the trial even started and did acquit him when the trial ended.
Inspector Morgan had served with the Florida State Beverage Department for one year.
Survivors
He was preceded in death by his wife and was survived by his two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-AEC7A7F7- 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.
Inspector Morgan gave the Florida State Beverage Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Morgan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector John W. Morgan 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 State Beverage Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Morgan's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Morgan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Morgan is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Florida State Beverage Department are honored on badge.nw.
