Prev Next
John Van Waters
Agency patch
Federal Prohibition Agent

John Van Waters

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch October 4, 1922
Age 46
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 44 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Federal Prohibition Agent John Waters and Constable Arthur Crenshaw, of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed in Pasco County, Florida while investigating illegal stills. They were shot from ambush as they sat in their car. Six men, five of them brothers, were arrested and charged with both murders. All were tried, but none were convicted. One was shot and killed on February 24, 1925, by officers who were raiding a liquor still near the same place where Agent Waters and Constable Crenshaw were killed. Agent Waters had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit for one month and as a U.S. Marshal for eight years. He was survived by his wife and five children. He is buried in Williams Cemetery, Dade City, Pasco County, Florida.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpte78wb5kt8ss1k73nq
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 15, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Federal Prohibition Agent Waters gave the United States Department of the Treasury 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Waters.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirspufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 4, 1922
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 46. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John 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

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has 59 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Federal Prohibition Agent John Van Waters

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit · End of Watch October 4, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

↑