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Incident
Deputy Kurtz was accidentally shot and killed with his own weapon while transporting a prisoner from New Smyrna Beach to Daytona Beach. He was transporting the prisoner for fear that a lynch mob was going to kill the man. When he and the prisoner reached Spruce Creek in Port Orange they discovered that the bridge had been damaged. As Deputy Kurtz bent down to replace a missing plank his gun discharged, fatally wounding him. Deputy Kurtz had a brother and a nephew who were also killed in the line of duty while serving the Volusia County Sheriff's Department. His brother, Sheriff Jefferson Kurtz, was shot and killed on August 24, 1895, and his nephew, Deputy William Kremer, was shot and killed on December 10, 1898.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Kurtz served with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the DeLand community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kurtz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Volusia County Sheriff's Office has lost 5 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Charles is one of 314 officers lost to accidents in FL, 31.2% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1907, 1 officer in FL was lost to accidents, the 81st heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 9.
In 1907, 16 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 127th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1907, 23 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 126th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 33. Of the 293 lost to accidents in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 35.
Charles was 33. 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.
Charles was 33. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
September holds 9.9% of these deaths in FL; February holds the most, 10.5%. Tuesdays: 12.4%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 20% of all 5 deaths at Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.2% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Volusia County Sheriff's Office has 5 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Volusia County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
