Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Wayne Koester and two other deputies were shot while responding to a domestic violence call at a home on Hilda Avenue in the Ocala National Forest.
The three deputies had made contact with the female subject at a neighbor's home. The deputies searched for the male subject at the couple's home but did not locate him. As they returned the female subject to the home, the man ambushed them from the woods with a shotgun loaded with slugs. He exchanged shots with the deputies, wounding all three. Deputy Koester was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The man fled the scene on a motorcycle but was apprehended later in the day following a massive manhunt and a second shootout. When the suspect was apprehended, it was discovered that he suffered gunshot wounds from one of the shootouts.
He was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, and two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. He was subsequently sentenced to death. During a second trial in 2022, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Deputy Koester was a member of the Florida Army National Guard who had served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office for only nine months and had previously served with the Umatilla Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-C7DC0D0F- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Koester gave the Lake County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tavares community. Thank you 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
Wayne J. Koester served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Wayne J. Koester 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 Lake County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 10 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. Wayne J. Koester's cause is highlighted.
How Wayne J. Koester Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wayne J. Koester is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wayne J. Koester was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Lake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
