Roll of Honor
George S. Fitzwater
Incident
Chief of Special Agents George Fitzwater drowned in the Savannah River while patrolling the Seaboard Air Line Railroad's wharf on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia.
Chief Fitzwater was overseeing an increased manpower operation due to a stevedore strike in Savannah. He was on a small barge at about 2:40 am and was checking on another special agent who had failed to check-in. He attempted to jump from his barge to a second barge but accidentally fell into the river. Nearby officers heard the splash and immediately started a rescue operation, but his body was not located until the following afternoon.
It was believed at the time that Chief Fitzwater struck his head as he fell into the river, and that his two revolvers and the extra payroll he was carrying weighed him down.
After his body was recovered, he was taken by train to his hometown of Monroe, North Carolina, for burial.
Chief Fitzwater had served with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife and daughter. He was predeceased by his 2-year-old son.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-FCCDAD8A- 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.
Chief of Special Agents Fitzwater gave the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Special Agents Fitzwater.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Special Agents George S. Fitzwater is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
At Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George S. Fitzwater's cause is highlighted.
How George S. Fitzwater Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. George S. Fitzwater is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Seaboard Air Line Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
