The Collier County Sheriff's Office took to social media yesterday to honor the memory of Cpl. Amedicus Q. Howell, III, 42 years after his tragic death in the line of duty. Their remembrance post detailed the events of that fateful day, March 29, 1983, when Cpl. Howell, known to his friends as 'Med,' courageously intervened in an armed robbery at a convenience store in Immokalee.
While out on patrol, Howell witnessed the robbery and called for backup before engaging in a high-speed chase. The five suspects tried to escape, navigating through roadblocks and speeding through residential zones, but ultimately crashed into a parked bus. "As Cpl. Howell stopped his vehicle and exited, a volley of gunfire erupted," the Collier County Sheriff's Office posted. In the exchange, Howell was fatally shot above his protective vest.
Cpl. Howell had been a member of the Collier County Sheriff's Office for ten years. His tragic death left behind a wife and, a child, whose lives were forever altered by that day's events.
The remembrance of Cpl. Howell's heroism is more than an act of looking back; it bridges the gap of decades, connecting the current officers and community members with a past embodiment of duty and sacrifice.
