Incident
Officer Thomas Szafranski was shot and killed by a sniper with a high-powered rifle while sitting in his patrol car near Davis Street and Sixth Street. The sniper shot him in the head in the unprovoked attack. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed on March 24th, 1998. Officer Szafranski had served with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Szafranski gave the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Szafranski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has lost 30 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1981, 1 officer at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1995, with 2.
In 1981, 8 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1981, 152 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 29. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 26.5 and 50; the middle age was 33. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Thomas was 29. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Thomas was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 29. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 27.3% of these deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Sundays: 27.3%.
May holds 9% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Sundays: 15.9%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 36.7% of all 30 deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 18.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 6.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has 30 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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David Henry Reese
Feb 28, 1970
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James Homer Moon
Sep 27, 1971
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Edward James Parker
Feb 6, 1972
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Glenn A. Rainey, Sr.
Aug 23, 1974
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Michael David Stewart
Apr 27, 1975
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Ronald Dale Florence
Jan 8, 1979
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Fred L. Lucy
Jan 8, 1979
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Charles A. Thompson, III Jan 8, 1979
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Martin Edward Slater
Feb 21, 1981
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Thomas Joseph Szafranski
May 24, 1981
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Frederick Albert McCall Feb 7, 1982
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Gary Bevel
May 17, 1983
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Jeffrey Norman Ritchey
Feb 23, 1987
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Charles Ray Shinholser, Jr.
Dec 14, 1988
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Warren Corway Sanders
Jul 26, 1990
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Fred G. Lampe
May 2, 1994
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Lonnie C. Miller, Sr.
May 6, 1995
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Ira Wayne Bramlitt
May 22, 1995
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Joseph Bruce Burtner
Dec 12, 1995
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James Ward
Oct 17, 1996
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John Lee Butler, Sr.
Mar 10, 1997
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Michael Harley Boynton
Oct 9, 1998
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Wilbert Wiggins, Sr.
Nov 8, 2002
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Scott Eric Bell
Oct 12, 2007
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Christopher Michael Kane
Sep 4, 2008
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Mark Hayden Larson
Mar 24, 2014
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Lance Christian Whitaker
May 15, 2018
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Christopher Michael Cunningham, Sr.
Aug 5, 2020
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Louis Michael Livatino
Jan 27, 2021
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Bradford D. McNew
Oct 12, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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