Fallen Heroes

Detective Ray Williamson died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Detective Williamson served with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for over 14 years. He is survived by his wife and child.

Lieutenant Bo Harrison was shot and killed while he sat in his patrol car observing activity at nightclub U.S. Route 301 in Lacoochee at approximately 2:00 am.

Several deputies who were across the street heard a gunshot and went to investigate. They located Lieutenant Harrison in his patrol car in the parking lot of a market across the street from the nightclub suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was transported to Dade City Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lieutenant Harrison had been shot with a high-powered rifle by a sniper who was in the nearby woods. The shot went through the trunk of the car and struck him in the back.

A 19-year-old suspect turned himself in two days later and was charged in connection with Lieutenant Harrison's murder. He admitted to shooting at the patrol in retaliation for a previous incident in which his friend died in a crash while fleeing from police officers. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Lieutenant Harrison was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He had served with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for 31 years, and his retirement date was only 15 days away. He is survived by his son and two daughters.

Deputy John Mecklenburg was killed in an automobile accident in Pasco County while involved in a vehicle pursuit.

Officers from the Brooksville Police Department had started pursuing a vehicle on U.S. Highway 41 at approximately 4:40 am. Deputies joined in the pursuit and attempted a PIT maneuver on the vehicle. The suspect driver was able to regain control of his vehicle and continued to flee. Deputy Mecklenburg continued to pursuit the vehicle into Pasco County. His vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree near the intersection of Painter Road.

His cruiser caught fire upon impact, but other officers in the pursuit were able to extinguish the flames. He was flown to a hospital in Tampa where he succumbed to his injuries. Another deputy was also injured earlier in the pursuit when his vehicle crashed.

The suspect driver of the vehicle was arrested by members of the Florida Highway Patrol a short time later after being pursued through four counties. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Deputy Mecklenburg was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office for two years. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Trooper James Crooks was shot and killed while he was involved in a chase of a suspect who had just killed two Tampa detectives, Detectives Randy Bell and Ricky Childers.

Trooper Crooks was attempting to stop the suspect, who had just car-jacked another driver, on I-75 just south of State Road 54 in Pasco County when gunfire erupted. Trooper Crooks was struck in the head before exiting his cruiser. The suspect then fled the scene and holed up in a gas station for several hours before committing suicide.

Deputy McCabe was killed when his patrol car was struck by a truck that had veered into his travel lane. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital where he died of his injuries.

Deputy McCabe was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was survived by his wife.

Deputy William O'Berry was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man in Hernando County. The suspect was wanted in Pasco County for stealing an automobile.

As Deputy O'Berry placed handcuffs on the suspect, the man suddenly ran towards the back of his house. Deputy O'Berry chased the man to the rear of the house where he was shot by the suspect.

The man fled the scene and was able to avoid a massive manhunt. He was arrested in Marion County several days later after being shot while fleeing officers. As the Hernando County sheriff and a deputy returned the suspect from Marion they were accosted by a group of angry citizens. The citizens took custody of the suspect and lynched him.

Deputy O'Berry was survived by his parents and siblings. He is buried in Townsend House Cemetery in Dade City, Florida.

Federal Prohibition Agent John Waters and Constable Arthur Crenshaw, of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed in Pasco County, Florida while investigating illegal stills. They were shot from ambush as they sat in their car.

Six men, five of them brothers, were arrested and charged with both murders. All were tried, but none were convicted. One was shot and killed on February 24, 1925, by officers who were raiding a liquor still near the same place where Agent Waters and Constable Crenshaw were killed.

Agent Waters had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit for one month and as a U.S. Marshal for eight years. He was survived by his wife and five children.

He is buried in Williams Cemetery, Dade City, Pasco County, Florida.

Constable Arthur Crenshaw and Federal Prohibition Agent John Waters, of the United States Treasury Department, were shot and killed while investigating illegal stills in Pasco County, Florida. They were shot from ambush as they sat in their car.

Six men, five of them brothers, were arrested and charged with both murders. All were tried, but none were convicted. One was shot and killed on February 24th, 1925, by officers raiding a liquor still near the site where Constable Crenshaw and Agent Waters were killed.

Constable Crenshaw was survived by his wife, son, mother, and brother.

He is buried in Trilby Cemetery, Trilby, Pasco County, Florida.

Deputy Shelley Nicks was shot and killed as he accompanied his father, the town marshal of Fivay, to serve a warrant. As the marshal attempted to take the suspect into custody, the man produced a handgun.

Seeing the gun, Deputy Nicks immediately jumped in front of his father as the suspect fired a single shot. The shot passed through Deputy Nicks' body, killing him instantly, and struck his father in the shoulder.

Deputy Nicks was survived by his wife and father and is buried in Brooksville Cemetery in Brooksville, Florida.