Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Monday, January 8, 1979
Add to My HeroesRonald D. Florence
Officer Ronald Florence, Officer Fred Lucy, and Officer Charles Thompson were killed in a plane crash while en route to pickup a prisoner in Panama City, Florida.
The Cessna 411, which had been seized several weeks prior, developed engine problems within minutes of taking off from Craig Field in Jacksonville. The pilot attempted to return to the airport was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field along Beach Boulevard. The plane struck a telephone pole and then the roof of a car dealership before coming to rest. All three officers were killed on impact.
Bio
- Age 32
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
Related LODD Deaths
Officer Fred L. Lucy
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 8, 1979
Officer Charles A. Thompson, III
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 8, 1979
Most Recent Reflection
View all 10 ReflectionsRest in peace Officer Florence.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 24, 2019
Recent LODD Deaths
Border Patrol Agent Juan Manuel Urrutia
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: May 28, 2021
Deputy Sheriff Dustin Kyle Speckels
Hays County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: May 30, 2021
Deputy Sheriff William H. Smith
Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: June 6, 2021
Detective Jamie Huntley-Park
San Diego Police Department, CA
EOW: June 4, 2021
Detective Ryan Park
San Diego Police Department, CA
EOW: June 4, 2021
Police Officer Emmanuel Familia
Worcester Police Department, MA
EOW: June 4, 2021
Lieutenant Adam Gustafson
West Fargo Police Department, ND
EOW: May 18, 2021
Police Officer Ginarro New
Phoenix Police Department, AZ
EOW: May 31, 2021
Sergeant Dominic Vaca
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: May 31, 2021