Ernest Kearns Ponce de Leon, a 40-year-old police officer with the Tallahassee Police Department, tragically lost his life on July 8, 1988. Officer Ponce de Leon was shot and killed while assisting another officer during a suspicious vehicle call at the intersection of Levy Avenue and Lake Bradford Road in Tallahassee, Florida. The occupants of the vehicle claimed their identification was packed in the trunk.
As one of the occupants was escorted to the trunk by another officer, two men suddenly pulled out handguns and opened fire. Officer Ponce de Leon, who was not wearing a vest, was struck in the chest and succumbed to his injuries. The suspects were apprehended at the scene, and it was later discovered that they had escaped from the Maryland Department of Corrections several days prior.
The primary suspect, a 33-year-old man, was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Ponce de Leon. He spent years on death row at the Union Correctional Institution in Florida. However, he died of natural causes on October 27, 2015, before his execution could be carried out. The other suspects involved in the incident received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the crime.
Officer Ponce de Leon's death marked a significant moment for the Tallahassee Police Department, as he was the first officer from the department to be murdered in the line of duty. His sacrifice has been remembered and honored by the community and his fellow officers. In recognition of his service and ultimate sacrifice, a street adjacent to the police station on Seventh Avenue was named in his honor on the 10th anniversary of his death. The incident has also been used in training new recruits in officer safety and survival, ensuring that Officer Ponce de Leon's legacy continues to impact the law enforcement community positively.
