Officer James J. Goodson

James J. Goodson

Officer Goodson was killed while assisting another officer.

Officer Goodson was checking a bar on 22 Street South in St. Petersburg when another officer observed a man in possession of a pistol outside. Hearing a struggle, Officer Goodson went outside to assist the other officer as he struggled with the suspect for possession of the gun. During the struggle the suspect fired the gun hitting Officer Goodson twice. He died of his wounds early on the following morning, Christmas Day 1947. The 35-year-old suspect was later arrested in Pinellas Park.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On March 26, 1950, he and three other inmates escaped from the state prison farm in Bell Glade. He was captured by a police officer and a FBI agent in Syracuse, New York, on June 10, 1952.