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Charles F. Turknett
Agency patch
Officer

Charles F. Turknett

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, FL
Felonious
United States flag Florida flag
End of Watch September 26, 1919
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 32

Incident

Officer Charles Turknett was shot and killed by a man he was pursuing around 1:30 a.m.

Officer Turknett and two other officers were at a call box, awaiting a patrol wagon to transport a suspect they were arresting. When a car passed them, Officer Turnkett noticed a gun in the hand of one of the passengers in the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop. When the driver did not stop, Officer Turnett pursued the vehicle on horseback. At Kings Road and Johnson Street, the suspect fired at Officer Turknett, who returned fire, striking the suspect twice. Officer Turknett was transported to St. Luke's Hospital, where he passed away from three bullet wounds.

The suspect was apprehended nine hours later, suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was convicted of murder and hanged on October 17, 1919.

Officer Turknett had served with the Jacksonville Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Turknett gave the Jacksonville Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Turknett.

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

Agency

Department Jacksonville Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Jacksonville, Duval County, FL
Platform Identity jpd.duval.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1919
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jacksonville Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years

Officer Charles F. Turknett

Jacksonville Police Department · End of Watch September 26, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

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