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Incident
Police Officer Lance Whitaker was killed in a single-vehicle crash on northbound I-295, near Alta Drive, at approximately 4:30 a.m.
He was responding to another accident scene on the interstate when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.
Officer Whitaker served more than 17 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his teenage son, fiancee and her three children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Police Officer Whitaker gave the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Whitaker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has lost 30 officers; 12 of them lost to accidents.
Lance is one of 314 officers lost to accidents in FL, 31.2% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Lance is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lance is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2018, 1 officer at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1979, with 3.
In 2018, 5 officers in FL were lost to accidents, the 14th heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 9.
In 2018, 50 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2018, 52 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 101st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Lance was 48. Of the 11 lost to accidents at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43; the middle age was 36. Lance had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 14.5 years.
Lance was 48. Of the 293 lost to accidents in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 35. Lance had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Lance was 48. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Lance had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lance was 48. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Lance had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 16.7% of these deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 25%. Tuesdays: 8.3%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in FL; February holds the most, 10.5%. Tuesdays: 12.4%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 40% of all 30 deaths at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.2% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has 30 officers remembered here, Lance among them.
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David Henry Reese
Feb 28, 1970
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James Homer Moon
Sep 27, 1971
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Edward James Parker
Feb 6, 1972
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Glenn A. Rainey, Sr.
Aug 23, 1974
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Michael David Stewart
Apr 27, 1975
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Ronald Dale Florence
Jan 8, 1979
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Fred L. Lucy
Jan 8, 1979
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Charles A. Thompson, III Jan 8, 1979
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Martin Edward Slater
Feb 21, 1981
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Thomas Joseph Szafranski
May 24, 1981
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Frederick Albert McCall Feb 7, 1982
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Gary Bevel
May 17, 1983
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Jeffrey Norman Ritchey
Feb 23, 1987
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Charles Ray Shinholser, Jr.
Dec 14, 1988
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Warren Corway Sanders
Jul 26, 1990
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Fred G. Lampe
May 2, 1994
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Lonnie C. Miller, Sr.
May 6, 1995
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Ira Wayne Bramlitt
May 22, 1995
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Joseph Bruce Burtner
Dec 12, 1995
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James Ward
Oct 17, 1996
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John Lee Butler, Sr.
Mar 10, 1997
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Michael Harley Boynton
Oct 9, 1998
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Wilbert Wiggins, Sr.
Nov 8, 2002
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Scott Eric Bell
Oct 12, 2007
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Christopher Michael Kane
Sep 4, 2008
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Mark Hayden Larson
Mar 24, 2014
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Lance Christian Whitaker
May 15, 2018
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Christopher Michael Cunningham, Sr.
Aug 5, 2020
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Louis Michael Livatino
Jan 27, 2021
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Bradford D. McNew
Oct 12, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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