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Cop, K-9 Killed after Crash into Guardrail

August 19, 2005

This city's first police officer killed in the line of duty was remembered as a dedicated husband, father and law-enforcement officer.

Officer Roy L. Nelson Jr., 36, and his police dog, Ceasar, died this weekend when Nelson, headed to the scene of a reported burglary, swerved his car to avoid another vehicle and crashed just east of the South Causeway on State Road A1A, investigators said. Both Nelson and the dog were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said Nelson was traveling west in a 50 mph zone about 11:40 p.m. Saturday when, a witness said, a white pickup pulled onto the road from Richmond Drive, on Bouchelle Island. The witness told the Florida Highway Patrol that the truck pulled out in front of Nelson and he swerved to avoid it, crashing into a guardrail and overturning. Nelson did not have his lights and siren on at the time of the crash, said FHP spokeswoman Kim Miller, and it was not known how fast Nelson was driving. Investigators could not say whether Nelson was wearing his seat belt.

The truck left the scene. Police are looking for a white, full-size pickup, possibly a 1990s Ford F-150. The truck is considered a factor in the crash, though the two vehicles do not appear to have made contact, Miller said, adding that the driver could face charges.

Nelson, a nearly seven-year veteran of New Smyrna Beach police, was remembered by family, friends and co-workers as a dedicated husband, father and law-enforcement officer. "He was a great guy in my book," said Nelson's father-in-law, Howard Hiett, reached by phone at his home in Tiffin, Ohio. "He took care of business, family-wise and at work."

Sgt. Mike Brouillette, spokesman for New Smyrna Beach police, said the department's first deaths in the line of duty touched everyone on the force of 53 sworn officers. Officers and employees will be talking with grief counselors during the next several days, he said. "There's never a party out there, a parade for our police officers. And most of them probably go unrecognized until something happens," Bishop said. "But this guy's out there protecting our families. We all lost a brother out there today."