Fallen Officers

• Officer William Morgan Payton
• February 9, 1924

On February 9, 1924, Patrolman William Morgan Payton was killed while trying to arrest Richard “Chester” McLendon. Richard McLendon resisted an effort by Patrolman Payton to place him under arrest during an encounter. Patrolman Payton struggled with McLendon, but subsequently killed by a bullet, fired by McLendon, which struck Officer Payton’s head. McLendon used Patrolman Payton’s pistol to commit the slaying, which he claimed was accidentally discharged during the struggle.

Source: Palm Beach Post archives, casetext.com

Jack Wadlington was born in Gracey, Kentucky on January 5, 1896. After serving in the Army during World War One, he found his way to West Palm Beach. He was hired as a police officer February 23, 1926. Officer Wadlington served as a motorcycle officer, patrolman, and detective. On Thursday, March 21, 1935, Acting Sergeant Wadlington was working extra duty. The annual Sun Dance Festival was in full swing at Bethesda Park, a predecessor to Curry Park. He and Detective R. C. McGriff were directing traffic on North Dixie Highway at Butler Street.

A Mr. C. C. Haas, who resided on 44th Street, was driving his Ford sedan north on Dixie. The police report contained in the blotter book for that day doesn’t tell us how it happened, only the tragic outcome. Jack Wadlington was struck by the front of Mr. Haas’ car and carried 20 to 25 feet before being thrown off.

Detective McGriff rushed over to him. Seeing how serious the injuries were, he placed the fallen officer into Mr. Haas’ car. They drove him to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was examined by Dr. Rozier. At 11:30 p.m., Officer Jack G. Wadlington, 39 years of age, was pronounced dead on arrival from massive head injuries.

Officer Wadlington was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery with full honors.

On August 7, 1937, Officer Lewis Allen Conner and Detective Thompson were investigating a burglary at Wilsons’ Grocery, 1118 North Tamarind Avenue. A suspect, Will Akery of 1322 Henrietta Avenue, was identified. Hearing that Akery was home, they went to the house around 11:30 a.m. Detective Thompson went to the front door and Officer Conner covered the rear. Thompson reported hearing one shot fired at the rear of the house. Thinking that Conner had fired at the suspect, he ran to the rear of the house.

Detective Thompson saw Akery running west in the alley and gave chase. Akery turned and fired one shot at Thompson before continuing west to Sapodilla Avenue. Akery was chased north, then west in the alley between 13th and 14th Streets. At Division Avenue, Akery turned north and was lost in the area of 15th Street.

Thompson, not seeing Officer Conner anywhere around, ran back to the house. Officer Conner was found a few feet from the back door with a single gunshot wound over the left eye. With the help of some bystanders, Detective Thompson put Officer Conner in the police car and rushed him to Good Samaritan Hospital. Officer Lewis A. Conner, 54 years of age, succumbed to his wounds at 12:04 p.m.

According to the police blotter report for the day, Chief Robert W. Milburn called in the entire police force. Aided by citizen volunteers, “a systematic dragnet of the city and surrounding county” was organized. Chief Milburn remained in “personal and active command throughout the day and night.” Akery was subsequently arrested, tried, and convicted.

Officer Conner is survived by children and grandchildren who continue to honor his memory to this day. He was a 12-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department.

Saturday, March 28, 1959, motorcycle Officer Festus Alvah “Al” Tatum and Sergeant Sam Trent were scheduled for a routine traffic detail. The detail, escorting a funeral procession from the funeral home to the cemetery, was one like dozens they had done before. Sgt. Trent was leading the procession while Officer Tatum “leapfrogged” the major intersections, directing traffic. Both officers were operating their red revolving warning lights, but not their sirens, which is customary for funeral escorts. The route took them south on Parker Avenue. At Belvedere Road, Officer Tatum controlled traffic at the intersection until the last car had passed. He pulled off and started south to catch up. When he reached the last car, he started to pass the procession on the left.

At the same time, a 15-year-old boy was leaving his house on Parkland Drive riding a motor scooter. He headed east on Hampton Road toward Parker Avenue. He got to Parker just when the center of the procession was passing. Apparently a gap had formed in the line of cars. Witnesses weren’t sure if the boy stopped at the stop sign or not, but he pulled out through the gap just as Officer Tatum reached the intersection.

Officer Tatum’s motorcycle and the motor scooter collided in the middle of the intersection. Neither rider had time to avoid the accident. The teenager was thrown from the motor scooter on impact, suffering severe injuries. Officer Tatum traveled off the southeast corner of the intersection and struck a tree. Upon impact with the tree, he was thrown from the motorcycle.

Ambulances were called immediately and both victims were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital. Officer F. A. “Al” Tatum, age 35, was pronounced dead on arrival from massive head injuries. Helmets weren’t required or used then. Had they been, there may have been a different outcome.

Officer Tatum is survived by his son, Mark A. Tatum. Officer Tatum was a four-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department.

This is a continuation of the incident on the segment honoring Officer William H. Fletcher, available above.

Cooley walked over and tried to shoot Officer Van Curler again. Witnesses heard the clicks from the empty gun. This apparently infuriated Cooley, who struck the officer in the face with the gun then kicked him. Discarding the empty gun, he reached down and took Officer Van Curler’s revolver. Officer Fletcher managed to get up and enter his patrol car. He tried to call for help, but his message wasn’t understandable. He left the car and walked to the back, steadying himself on the car. Cooley advanced toward him, firing Van Curler’s gun. Officer Fletcher fell to the ground and didn’t move. Cooley, continuing to shout, struck Fletcher in the head with the now empty gun. He then began to walk west toward Broadway, just as Lieutenant Edward Auditore arrived. Lt. Auditore saw Cooley throw the gun in then grass as he passed Officer Van Curler.

Lt. Auditore reported Cooley turned toward the motionless bodies of the officers shouting, “Come kill me. I did it. I want to die now. Kill me now. I am John the Baptist.” Lt. Auditore grabbed Cooley from behind. Officers James W. Keeling and Ralph E. Kinser arrived. The officers together managed to handcuff Cooley.

Lt. Auditore went to the fallen officers. Officer David R. Van Curler, age 31, and Officer William H. Fletcher, age 52, were dead. Chief William M. Barnes, Inspector Joseph Macy, and Captains Henry Baumhauer and Joe Panozzo arrived on the scene. After learning the officers expired, these high ranking officers assisted in crowd control.

Earlier that same afternoon, John Calvin Cooley’s wife had filed papers in court to have him committed. Cooley was committed to a state mental hospital after being found not guilty of the murders by reason of insanity. He died there some years later.

Officer William H. Fletcher was a 19-year veteran. He is survived by his sons, Jim and George Fletcher. Officer David R. Van Curler was a four-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department. He is survived by his widow, Ellen, and his children, Evelyn, David, Daniel, Laura, and Vern.

Officer William Harold “Bill” Fletcher had been Jail Sergeant before returning to the road as a Patrolman. He was patrolling the north end of the city Thursday, April 6, 1967. At 4:43 p.m., a call was received from the bank on the southeast corner of 45th Street and Broadway. The bank manager reported a man pounding on the door, shouting, and demanding, entrance to the closed business. Officer Fletcher was dispatched to the call. When he arrived, he pulled his car to the south curb of 45th Street in front of the bank. He contacted the bank employees, finding everything was okay inside, he tried to talk to the man, John Calvin Cooley, who was still there at the front of the bank.

Cooley was belligerent and continued shouting. Portable radios were not issued then, so Officer Fletcher had to walk back to the patrol car to radio in. He reported the bank was okay, but he may have trouble with Cooley. As he completed his radio transmission, Cooley began walking toward him. Officer Fletcher left the patrol car and met Cooley on the curb. After speaking for only a few seconds, witnesses saw Cooley strike Officer Fletcher on the left side of the face. Officer Fletcher grabbed Cooley and tried unsuccessfully to handcuff him. During the scuffle, Officer Fletcher lost his footing and fell to the ground. Cooley either fell on or bent over the fallen officer. Two citizens crossing 45th Street to help Officer Fletcher saw Cooley get Fletcher’s service revolver. Cooley fired at least two shots into Officer Fletcher’s chest as he tried to get up. Cooley stood up and fired two shots toward the approaching citizens who turned and ran. Motorcycle Officer David Richard Van Curler turned onto 45th Street, pulling up to the curb. Cooley fired one shot through the windshield of the motorcycle, striking Officer Van Curler in the chest. The bike fell onto its right side, the officer falling onto the grass swale.

Officer William H. Fletcher was a 19-year veteran. He is survived by his sons, Jim and George Fletcher. Officer David R. Van Curler was a four-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department. He is survived by his widow, Ellen, and his children, Evelyn, David, Daniel, Laura, and Vern.

Friday, February 10, 1967, around 9:15 p.m., Motorcycle Officer Clarence Leo “Lee” Wagner was dispatched to an accident with injuries in the 6300 block of South Dixie Highway. Witnesses saw him coming south on South Dixie approaching Belvedere Road with his blue light and siren on. He slowed almost to a stop for the red light there, saw the way was clear, and continued south through the intersection. A newspaper employee was driving his car north in the inside lane of South Dixie, returning to work after a dinner break. Officer Wagner was still southbound in the outside curb lane. When the employee reached Hamilton Road, the entrance to the newspaper, he started to turn left across Officer Wagner’s path. Though Officer Wagner was still operating his blue light and siren according to witnesses, the driver claimed he never saw or heard anything until just before impact.

Officer Wagner tried to swerve left around the car, but was unable to avoid the collision. When the motorcycle struck the side of the car, Officer Wagner was ejected from the seat and into the northbound lanes of traffic. A second northbound car struck the officer, dragging him 20 feet. Officer C. L. “Lee” Wagner, age 28, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. The driver of the car was charged with causing an accident by failing to yield the right-of-way.

Officer Wagner is survived by his mother, Nellie Wagner and brother, John Wagner. Officer Wagner was a two-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department

Sunday, January 21, 1984, Officer Robert Dennis “Bob” Edwards was assigned to Zone 7 on the 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 P.M. shift. He was sent on his first call of the day, an abduction and robbery, soon after going on duty. He finished the call a little after 9:00 a.m., dropping the victim off at her home. At 9:39 a.m., he was sent to cover Officer Chris Fahey at a disturbance call on 54th Street. A female was arrested and placed in the back of Officer Fahey’s car. The prisoner began to bang her head against the inside of the car, causing injury to herself. They restrained her and the Fire Department Medics were called. After first aid was given, Officer Fahey took the prisoner to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment.

Officer Edwards waited for a wrecker to pick up the car belonging to the arrested woman. Officer Harry Oswald came by, having been at the same address on a similar call earlier. Officer Edwards asked him to wait with the wrecker so he could leave. Officer Oswald said Edwards seemed concerned that Officer Fahey would need help with the prisoner at the hospital. When Officer Edwards left for the hospital, he seemed to be in a hurry.

Officer Edwards was southbound on North Dixie Highway approaching 36th Street. The light started to change to red. He apparently never saw the car facing north in the intersection waiting to turn left. When the light turned red, the car started to turn and Officer Edwards entered the intersection. Officer Edwards swerved in an attempt to avoid the turning car. The patrol car clipped the turning car, then crossed over the curb on the southwest corner of the intersection. The patrol car struck a bus bench, then a concrete light pole.

Fire-medics responded immediately from the fire station around the next corner south. A passing physician, Dr. Elwyn Middleton, stopped to help. But it was too late. Officer Robert D. Edwards, age 34, was dead from massive head injuries.

Officer Robert D. Edwards, is survived by his wife Susan, his children, Amy Michelle, Brian, Elizabeth and stepdaughter Amy Lynn, his mother, Frances Reed and his brother Stanley. He was a four-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department.

The intense heat and humidity of South Florida summers were typically oppressive Monday, August 22, 1988. Motorcycle Officer Brian Heywood Chappell did not have the luxury of air-conditioning, something his colleagues in patrol cars took for granted. His decision to leave his bullet resistant vest in his locker was understandable, but unfortunate. Officer Chappell was conducting speed enforcement on Southern Boulevard just east of I-95 at 10:50 a.m.. A late model pickup sped by the officer’s position. He pulled behind the small truck to make the stop and contact the driver. The truck continued east toward South Dixie Highway, where it turned south then west on Malverne Road, coming to a stop.

Officer Chappell removed his motorcycle helmet, placed it on his handlebars, and started walking toward the open driver’s window. The driver, an escapee from a prison work-release program, extended a stolen pistol out the window, turning the barrel toward the approaching police officer. Before he could react, Officer Brian Chappell was shot once through the heart. After firing the single shot, the driver sped away. Officer Chappell managed to say “officer shot” over the radio before collapsing onto the pavement.

The Police Department immediately received frantic calls from citizens. Other officers sped to the scene. Fire Department Medics responded from Southern Boulevard, less than a block away, but it was too late. Officer Brian Chappell, age 30, was dead on arrival at Good Samaritan Hospital.

This senseless murder of a police officer set in motion the most intense manhunt ever experienced in local law enforcement. The media focused their attention on the case. When the primary detectives on the case first began the investigation, they made a pact to have the murderer in custody before the officer was laid to rest. Investigators had precious few clues at the scene and leads that seemed to go nowhere. Through a combination of diligent detective work, citizen cooperation, and teamwork with other police agencies around the county, things came together. The focus of the case soon turned toward a well-known local burglar and thief. Despite the odds against them, the detectives built a case.

Wednesday night, August 24, 1988, detectives put the cuffs on Norberto “Spiderman” Pietri, age 25. Two and one-half days had passed since the murder. Officer Brian Chappell was laid to rest with full honors the next day. Norberto Pietri went to trial some 18 months later. He was found guilty and sentenced to die in Florida’s electric chair.

Officer Brian Chappell left behind to mourn him his parents, Tom and Julia Chappell, and a large group of friends and colleagues. He was a five-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department.