64 years ago, St. Petersburg Police Department lost one of their own in the line duty, and they haven't forgotten. In a social media tribute marking the anniversary of his end of watch (EOW), the department remembered Officer Eugene A. Bessette, who perished on November 10, 1961. The post, shared on the department's Facebook page, states: "Officer Eugene A. Bessette was St. Petersburg’s ninth officer to be killed in the line of duty."
Officer Bessette's final moments came while on patrol on his police motorcycle. The account details the circumstances of his death, "he was struck by a vehicle whose driver failed to heed a stop sign. Officer Bessette was thrown from his motorcycle and died."
Survived at the time by a wife and three sons, Officer Bessette's legacy is more than just a name engraved in remembrance. The St. Petersburg Police Department's post regarded him as a hero, "having given his life to the service of the community and the St. Petersburg Police Department." Today, the department and the city continues to honor Bessette and officers like him who have made the ultimate sacrifice. "Let us remember Officer Bessette and his contribution to the Department," declared an a statement.
