S. Vincent Anthony
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Incident
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on July 18, 2008, Police Officer Andrew Widman and other officers responded to a domestic dispute outside a restaurant on Main Street, between Broadway and Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers. As the officers moved in to break up the fight, the male subject drew a 9mm handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Widman in the face. The subject fled on foot and continued firing at a pursuing officer, who returned fire and killed him. Officer Widman had served with the Fort Myers Police Department for just over a year. He came to policing after serving as a missionary.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
He was ours. Fort Myers, one bridge from my door - the same streets, the same downtown, the same two in the morning.
Andrew Widman had been a police officer for barely a year. Before the badge he was a missionary; he simply went from one kind of service to another. He left a wife and three children, and he answered a call that was somebody else's emergency.
This platform exists so a name like his is never left to whatever server happens to still be running twenty years from now. He will be here. Permanently, freely, with no one sold anything to see him.
Rest easy, Officer Widman. We have the watch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, Founder, NeuraWeb Global Inc., U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Fort Myers Police Department has lost 6 officers; 3 of them killed feloniously.
Andrew is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Andrew is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Andrew 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 2008, 4 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 2008, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2008, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Andrew was 30. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Andrew had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Andrew was 30. 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. Andrew had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Andrew was 30. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Andrew had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 8.4% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Fridays: 13.2%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 6 deaths at Fort Myers Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; 9 mm, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; 9 mm, in 0.7% 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 handgun; 9 mm, in 0.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; 9 mm, in 0.2% of these deaths.
His people
Fort Myers Police Department has 6 officers remembered here, Andrew among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Fort Myers Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
