Motorman Royston Earl Walker Jr. - Florida State Road Dept. - Division of Traffic Enforcement - True Life Hero

Royston Earl Walker Jr.
- Aug. 31, 1936 -

(15014)

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Florida State Road Department - Division of Traffi

Resided:	FL, USA
Born:	Unk
Fallen:	Aug. 31, 1936
Race/Sex:	Caucasian Male / 27 yrs. of age
	Agency
Dept:	Florida State Road Dept. - Division of Traffic Enforcement FL USA
Dept. Type:	State/Police
Hero's Rank:	Motorman
Sworn Date:	2/1936
FBI Class:	Homicide - Gun
Weapon Class:	Firearm
Memorial Panel:	Panel 58-E: Line 23
Duties:	assigned to the area of North Central Florida, Cross City

Bio: Patrolman Walker joined the Florida State Road Department Traffic Division in early 1936 and trained in Fort Myers, Florida in February 1936. Upon completion of the four-week training school, Patrolman Walker reported to Tallahassee, Florida and was inspected by then Governor Dave Sholtz. Patrolman Walker was subsequently assigned to the area of North Central Florida.

Patrolman Walker was son of Earl Walker, the former Sheriff of Levy County, Florida from 1903 through 1925. At the time of his death, he was 27.

Sheriff Walker is best known for his involvement in the Rosewood Massacre in 1923 in Levy County.

Fatal Incident Summary

Offender:	No Info
Location:	Cross, FL USA Mon. Aug. 31, 1936
Summary:	On the evening of August 31st 1936 in Cross City, Florida, Patrolman Walker while on duty made contact with a vehicle that he had stopped earlier. Three members of the Boston family of Alachua County were driving the vehicle in downtown Cross City, Florida. The men had been issued a warning by Patrolman Walker regarding the vehicle's faulty headlamps. Patrolman Walker stopped the vehicle for operating a vehicle at night without headlamps and subsequently boarded the vehicle's running board. Upon placing the Boston family under arrest, Patrolman Walker ordered the driver to drive the vehicle to the Dixie County Jail in Cross City. A few minutes later, a gunshot was fired by Dr. G.W. Boston of Alachua County that struck Patrolman Walker through the heart. Before dying, Patrolman Walker was able to return fire mortally wounding Dr. Boston. Another occupant, a Mark Hampton Boston of Alachua County, was also wounded and transported to an area hospital. The third occupant, J.C. Boston of Alachua County, was not injured and was arrested and transported to the Dixie County Jail in Cross City for his involvement in the death of Patrolman Walker.
Disposition:	The agency was dissolved due to lack of support from then Florida Governor Fred P. Cone and would later be reborn as the Florida Highway Patrol in 1939. Patrolman Walker was the first and only Traffic Inspector for the Florida State Road Department to be slain in the line of duty.
Source:	Website Click

Last Updated: Aug. 27, 2013