New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, August 13, 2005
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 780
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: August 13, 2005
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Roy Nelson was killed in an automobile accident while on patrol.
Officer Nelson and his canine partner, Caesar, were responding to a burglary call. They were traveling on State Road A1A just east of the South Causeway when a pick-up truck pulled out from Richmond Drive. When Officer Nelson tried to avoid a collision, his patrol car hit a guardrail and overturned. Officer Nelson and K-9 Caesar both died from their injuries.
The driver of the truck fled the scene. He came forward two weeks later and the state attorney's office declined to charge him.
Officer Nelson had served with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.