James Frank Surrency

Chief of Police James Surrency succumbed to gunshot wounds he received while responding to a murder scene on December 2, 1930. While off duty, Chief Surrency responded to a possible murder call at the residence of a man he knew. Within moments of his arrival, Chief Surrency was wounded by gunfire from the suspect. He was transported to a Jacksonville hospital, where he later died from five gunshot wounds. Other officers, responding to the scene, found that the suspect had killed two more people, a man and a woman. The suspect was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to life. He was denied parole in 1939 and was still in prison in 1940. Chief Surrency was a World War I veteran and had served with the Fernandina Beach Police Department for 20 years. At the time of his death, he held both the Police and Fire Chief positions. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and three grandsons. Chief Surrency was a World War I Veteran.