David Michael Goddard
Deputy Sheriff

David Michael Goddard

Polk County Sheriff's Department — Winter Haven, FL
Accident
End of Watch February 2, 1989
Age 34
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff David Goddard was killed in an automobile accident on Airport Road when his patrol car struck a pickup truck. The pickup truck was traveling with no tail lights on a dark stretch of at 2:00 am. Deputy Goddard was survived by his wife and three children. His wife also served as a Polk County deputy sheriff at the time of the accident.

Survivors

Deputy Goddard was survived by his wife and three children.

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.
Deputy Sheriff Goddard gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Goddard.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Winter Haven, Polk County, FL
Platform Identity pcso.polk.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1989
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1989, 84 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. David had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Polk County Sheriff's Department has 18 officers remembered here, David among them.

Deputy Sheriff David Michael Goddard

Polk County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch February 2, 1989

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

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