William Glenn Newberry was born in Grove City, Desoto County, Florida to parents, Robert J. and Sidney Florence (Redding) Newberry. Newberry had two sisters and one brother (Cassie F., Robert “Earl”, and Thelma F.) and grew up in Tampa and St. Petersburg. The family had moved to Tampa in 1913 and then over to St. Petersburg in 1923. Newberry’s father worked in construction as a bricklayer and then a plasterer. Newberry worked for years as a plasterer and also worked as a waiter in 1930. In November of 1924, in Pinellas County, Newberry married his wife, Nina Mae Burdick, and they had one son and one daughter (William N. and Norma G.).
In 1935, Newberry started work as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg. On 16 Oct 1937, Newberry was assigned with Officer James Alfred Thornton, who was working his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Newberry checked on duty at 1600 hours with his junior partner, Officer Thornton, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between both officers and an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry, twice, in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Newberry was survived by his step-mother, Ruby; his wife, Nina; his two children, William N. (4) and Norma G. (2); and his brother, Robert Earl Newberry. Robert Earl Newberry was also an officer for the City of St. Petersburg and continued his career in law enforcement becoming a Lieutenant for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. A large memorial service was attended by law enforcement officers, friends, and fellow citizens at the Ralph G. Cooksey’s Chapel and Newberry was buried in the Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 30 and with 2 years of service, Officer William Glenn Newberry was the seventh St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
In 1935, Newberry started work as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg. On 16 Oct 1937, Newberry was assigned with Officer James Alfred Thornton, who was working his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Newberry checked on duty at 1600 hours with his junior partner, Officer Thornton, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between both officers and an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry, twice, in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Newberry was survived by his step-mother, Ruby; his wife, Nina; his two children, William N. (4) and Norma G. (2); and his brother, Robert Earl Newberry. Robert Earl Newberry was also an officer for the City of St. Petersburg and continued his career in law enforcement becoming a Lieutenant for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. A large memorial service was attended by law enforcement officers, friends, and fellow citizens at the Ralph G. Cooksey’s Chapel and Newberry was buried in the Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 30 and with 2 years of service, Officer William Glenn Newberry was the seventh St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
William Glenn Newberry was born in Grove City, Desoto County, Florida to parents, Robert J. and Sidney Florence (Redding) Newberry. Newberry had two sisters and one brother (Cassie F., Robert “Earl”, and Thelma F.) and grew up in Tampa and St. Petersburg. The family had moved to Tampa in 1913 and then over to St. Petersburg in 1923. Newberry’s father worked in construction as a bricklayer and then a plasterer. Newberry worked for years as a plasterer and also worked as a waiter in 1930. In November of 1924, in Pinellas County, Newberry married his wife, Nina Mae Burdick, and they had one son and one daughter (William N. and Norma G.).
In 1935, Newberry started work as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg. On 16 Oct 1937, Newberry was assigned with Officer James Alfred Thornton, who was working his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Newberry checked on duty at 1600 hours with his junior partner, Officer Thornton, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between both officers and an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry, twice, in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Newberry was survived by his step-mother, Ruby; his wife, Nina; his two children, William N. (4) and Norma G. (2); and his brother, Robert Earl Newberry. Robert Earl Newberry was also an officer for the City of St. Petersburg and continued his career in law enforcement becoming a Lieutenant for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. A large memorial service was attended by law enforcement officers, friends, and fellow citizens at the Ralph G. Cooksey’s Chapel and Newberry was buried in the Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 30 and with 2 years of service, Officer William Glenn Newberry was the seventh St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
In 1935, Newberry started work as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg. On 16 Oct 1937, Newberry was assigned with Officer James Alfred Thornton, who was working his first day as a sworn police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was hired to work motorcycle patrol. Newberry checked on duty at 1600 hours with his junior partner, Officer Thornton, and they were assigned to work at the Downie Brother’s Circus at Campbell Park. Early in their shift, a verbal altercation occurred between both officers and an intoxicated citizen, J.O. Moses, and Moses was ordered to leave the circus. A few minutes after 2000 hours, Moses returned to the circus with a gun. Moses shot Thornton from behind killing him instantly and then turned and shot Newberry, twice, in the right breast and kidney. Newberry could not use his right arm, but was able to draw his firearm with his left hand and fire three rounds at Moses, who was running away. When the crowd on scene attempted to help Newberry, he was quoted as saying, “get my buddy”. Newberry’s own brother and fellow City Patrolman, Robert “Earl” Newberry gave blood at Mound Park Hospital, as did others, but Newberry died at 0405 hours on the following day.
The shooting suspect, Moses was tracked down to an apartment house in the 1200 block of 3 Avenue South. After further resistance from Moses, Officer J. Z. Stanley shot Moses twice. Many citizens of the City were also out looking for Moses, including Thornton’s own twin brother, John D. Thornton, who arrived on scene as Moses died.
Officer Newberry was survived by his step-mother, Ruby; his wife, Nina; his two children, William N. (4) and Norma G. (2); and his brother, Robert Earl Newberry. Robert Earl Newberry was also an officer for the City of St. Petersburg and continued his career in law enforcement becoming a Lieutenant for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. A large memorial service was attended by law enforcement officers, friends, and fellow citizens at the Ralph G. Cooksey’s Chapel and Newberry was buried in the Royal Palm Cemetery. At age 30 and with 2 years of service, Officer William Glenn Newberry was the seventh St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Gravesite Details
National Law Enforcement Memorial: Panel 11 - W: line 1
