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Willie R. Denson
Agency patch
Officer

Willie R. Denson

Daytona Beach Police Department — Daytona Beach, FL
Felonious
United States flag Florida flag
End of Watch April 30, 1937
Age 30
The Vigil Panel 159 · Column 1 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 10

Incident

Officer Willie Denson was shot and killed with his own service revolver shortly after arresting a suspect.

He had placed the suspect in his patrol car but the man began to struggle with the officer. The suspect was able to gain control of Officer Denson's service weapon and shot him.

The 21-year-old suspect was was apprehended two weeks later in Lynchburg, Virginia.

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 Denson served with the Daytona Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Daytona Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Denson.

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

Agency

Department Daytona Beach Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Daytona Beach, Volusia County, FL
Platform Identity dbpd.volusia.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1937
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Willie 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1937, 123 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Willie was 30. 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.

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

When

April holds 8.4% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Daytona Beach Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, Willie among them.

Across the years

Officer Willie R. Denson

Daytona Beach Police Department · End of Watch April 30, 1937

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E

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