Officer Clarence K. Till, a dedicated member of the Key West Police Department, tragically lost his life on March 10, 1904, at the age of 31. Till, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, was responding to a disturbance caused by a drunk man at a local coffee shop. The situation quickly escalated when the suspect, along with four of his intoxicated friends, managed to disarm Officer Till during the initial arrest attempt.
Seeking assistance, Till went to the mayor's house to obtain additional firearms. Upon returning to the scene with the mayor, Officer Till was ambushed and fatally shot multiple times by the suspect, who had hidden in a strategic location. The mayor returned fire, wounding the suspect, who was subsequently arrested the next day by the Monroe County Sheriff.
The suspect, identified as Herbert 'Dutchy' Melbourne, was initially convicted of Officer Till's murder and sentenced to death on November 30, 1904. However, in April 1906, the Florida Supreme Court overturned the conviction, ruling that Melbourne could only be tried for manslaughter. On December 6, 1907, Melbourne was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in the county jail. While serving his sentence, Melbourne was implicated in the robbery and arson of a cigar factory in Key West. He was convicted of these crimes on May 19, 1908, and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Melbourne's criminal activities did not end there. On October 21, 1909, he escaped from the Florida Penitentiary and went into hiding in a remote area of Monroe County. He found work with a local farmer, who ultimately had him killed on October 17, 1910, to avoid paying him. Officer Till's death left a profound impact on the Key West community, and he was survived by his expectant wife, two daughters, and a brother. His dedication and bravery are remembered as a significant part of the Key West Police Department's history.
