St. Augustine Beach Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Sunday, January 12, 1975
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 12, 1975
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Deputy Marshal Ronald Parker was shot after responding to a report of a man driving over a bulkhead at the St. Augustine Beach pier. Upon arrival to the pier he was directed to a nearby hotel where witnesses said the driver had gone.
He arrived at the hotel and made contact with the subject. He obtained the man's identification and directed him to come back to the patrol car so he could drive him back to the location of where the car drove off the pier. As the man got into the passenger door he suddenly pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Deputy Marshal Parker in the neck. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Marshal Parker was able to pull the patrol car around the hotel. The suspect returned to the scene moments later, pulled Deputy Marshal Parker from the vehicle and then drove away in the patrol car.
Unbeknownst to Deputy Marshal Parker, the suspect was wanted for a bank robbery in Iowa and a double murder of security officers in Alabama. The man had inadvertently given Deputy Marshal Parker his real identification and opened fire when he realized that his identity would be revealed.
The suspect was arrested after a short chase and shootout. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for murder of a police officer. He was also convicted of several other related crimes, including attempted murder of a police officer. He died in prison in October 2013.
Deputy Marshal Parker had served with the St. Augustine Beach Police Department for seven years and had previously served with the United States Navy. He was survived by his wife, father, three sisters, and brother and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Saint Augustine, Florida.