Lieutenant

William E. Gruber

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, FL
Felonious
End of Watch April 28, 1897
The Vigil Panel 14 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant William Gruber was beaten to death while investigating the murder of an infant that had occurred the previous week.

He had returned to the crime scene when he was attacked by an unknown individual. He suffered a fractured skull and died at the scene. His body was found the next morning and his revolver had been stolen. Two men were apprehended.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Lieutenant Gruber served with the Jacksonville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 April 28, 1897
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1897, 52 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 137th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

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

Lieutenant William E. Gruber

Jacksonville Police Department · End of Watch April 28, 1897

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W

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