Chief Deputy

Bob C. Wilcox

Felonious
End of Watch July 4, 1919
Age 60
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Deputy Bob Wilcox was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man who had escaped from jail after having been arrested for assaulting his sister-in-law near Lacoochee, Florida.

He and the county sheriff learned the suspect was hiding in the swamps approximately 12 miles south of Clermont. The man opened fire on them as they searched for him and Chief Deputy Wilcox was killed.

The 31-year-old suspect was apprehended three months later in Polk County. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to four years. On August 19, 1921, he escaped from a state work camp in Holmes County. Two months later he was shot and killed while resisting arrest near Clermont.

Chief Deputy Wilcox was survived by his wife and four children.

Survivors

Chief Deputy Wilcox was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Chief Deputy Wilcox gave the Lake County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tavares community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Wilcox.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Tavares, Lake County, FL
Platform Identity lcso.lake.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1919
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bob is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bob was 60. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Bob had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Lake County Sheriff's Office has 10 officers remembered here, Bob among them.

VI

Where

Chief Deputy Bob C. Wilcox

Lake County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch July 4, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W

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