Constable Wayne Coram, Bay County Constable's Office, Florida

Constable Wayne Coram

Bay County Constable's Office, Florida

End of Watch Saturday, October 6, 1951

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Wayne Coram

Constable Wayne Coram was shot and killed after arresting two brothers in the West Bay area of the county.

He had encountered the two in an area of West Bay known as the "Y" and placed them under arrest for being drunk. He searched one of the men but not the second man. As he drove them to jail, the subject he didn't search, who was a former police officer, drew a concealed weapon and instructed Constable Coram to drive them back to their car.

When they arrived back at the car, Constable Coram assisted in waving down another motorist and asked him to go for help. He then jumped from the car and exchanged shots with the subject. After being struck by one of the rounds, the second brother took Constable Coram's gun and shot him a second time.

Both men were arrested following a 20-mile pursuit. The ex-police officer was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in 1952. Two years later, the Florida Supreme Court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial. Charges against his brother were dismissed.

Constable Coram was the elected constable for the Beaches and West Bay area of the county. He was survived by his wife, three sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren, and his sister. His son, three grandsons, and two great-grandsons went on to serve in law enforcement.

Bio

Age 60
Tour 10 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to 30 years

arrest, abducted, DIP

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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

Your spirt and sacrifice have been an inspiration to generations…

Derrick Coram
Great grand son

January 14, 2023