Officer

J. Thomas Watts

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, FL
Felonious
End of Watch May 5, 1933
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 66 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Watts was shot and mortally wounded and a deputy sheriff was wounded after they arrested a man for a liquor violation. As they were placing the suspect in the patrol car he grabbed the deputy's service revolver and shot them both. Officer Watts returned fire killing the suspect. Officer Watts died in the hospital later that night.

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.
Officer Watts served with the Jacksonville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Watts.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch May 5, 1933
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

J. was 39. 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.

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

When

May holds 8% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Officer J. Thomas Watts

Jacksonville Police Department · End of Watch May 5, 1933

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-W

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