Herbert Ray Sullivan was born in Mendenhall, Simpson County, Mississippi to parents, Artis R. and Gladys Theo (May) Sullivan. Sullivan had two brothers and one sister (William M., Donald R., and Terri Anne) and he grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. Sullivan went to Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia and obtained a BA in Political Science from Old Dominion College, where he was in the Theta Chi Fraternity. In June of 1970, in Norfolk, Virginia, Sullivan married his first wife, Karen Jean Lea, and they did not have any children. Sullivan moved to St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida in 1972. Sullivan divorced and then in December of 1975 in Pinellas County, he married his wife, June Emily Hougarrd, and they did not have any children.
Sullivan started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg in 1974 and worked three years as a uniformed patrol officer. Sullivan applied to work as an undercover Vice and Narcotic Detective, and he started in that position in March of 1977. On 18 Aug 1980, at approximately 1300 hours, Sullivan was working with other undercover narcotic detectives as a participant in the purchase of a large quantity of cocaine. Sullivan parked his unmarked, gray, Chevy pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Save Inn, located at 2260 54 Avenue North. Sullivan’s partner, Detective Harry Herbst, was his passenger and Herbst exited their vehicle and went inside the hotel to initiate the narcotic purchase. Sullivan was waiting in the truck with a large quantity of cash to complete the purchase. None of the back-up units had a visual of Sullivan, so no one observed the suspect, Sammie Lee Mathis, approach the truck and open fire on Sullivan, hitting him multiple times in the chest. Sullivan was treated on scene and rushed to Hubert Rutland Hospital, but was pronounced deceased at 1516 hours. The investigation was assisted by a City worker who was driving north on Interstate 275 and witnessed Mathis run down the embankment to a vehicle in the emergency lane with the hood up. The following day detectives were able to arrest Mathis and he confessed to the murder. Detectives also learned about a co-defendant in the shooting named William G. Haake. Haake had fled the country to Spain, but was later extradited back to Pinellas County and both suspects received a sentence of life in prison.
Detective Sullivan was survived by his parents; his wife, June E.; and his three siblings listed above. Sullivan was described as an officer, who truly believed in police work, and Chief Mack Vines advised that Sullivan had a recent letter of commendation for solving a narcotic problem near a citizen’s home. A St. Petersburg Times reporter, advised that they knew Sullivan personally and that Sullivan was always enthusiastic about his career in policing. The service for Sullivan was held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross and a large procession led to the burial at the Woodlawn Memory Gardens cemetery. At age 30 and with 6 years of service, Detective Herbert Ray Sullivan was the twelfth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Sullivan started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg in 1974 and worked three years as a uniformed patrol officer. Sullivan applied to work as an undercover Vice and Narcotic Detective, and he started in that position in March of 1977. On 18 Aug 1980, at approximately 1300 hours, Sullivan was working with other undercover narcotic detectives as a participant in the purchase of a large quantity of cocaine. Sullivan parked his unmarked, gray, Chevy pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Save Inn, located at 2260 54 Avenue North. Sullivan’s partner, Detective Harry Herbst, was his passenger and Herbst exited their vehicle and went inside the hotel to initiate the narcotic purchase. Sullivan was waiting in the truck with a large quantity of cash to complete the purchase. None of the back-up units had a visual of Sullivan, so no one observed the suspect, Sammie Lee Mathis, approach the truck and open fire on Sullivan, hitting him multiple times in the chest. Sullivan was treated on scene and rushed to Hubert Rutland Hospital, but was pronounced deceased at 1516 hours. The investigation was assisted by a City worker who was driving north on Interstate 275 and witnessed Mathis run down the embankment to a vehicle in the emergency lane with the hood up. The following day detectives were able to arrest Mathis and he confessed to the murder. Detectives also learned about a co-defendant in the shooting named William G. Haake. Haake had fled the country to Spain, but was later extradited back to Pinellas County and both suspects received a sentence of life in prison.
Detective Sullivan was survived by his parents; his wife, June E.; and his three siblings listed above. Sullivan was described as an officer, who truly believed in police work, and Chief Mack Vines advised that Sullivan had a recent letter of commendation for solving a narcotic problem near a citizen’s home. A St. Petersburg Times reporter, advised that they knew Sullivan personally and that Sullivan was always enthusiastic about his career in policing. The service for Sullivan was held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross and a large procession led to the burial at the Woodlawn Memory Gardens cemetery. At age 30 and with 6 years of service, Detective Herbert Ray Sullivan was the twelfth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Herbert Ray Sullivan was born in Mendenhall, Simpson County, Mississippi to parents, Artis R. and Gladys Theo (May) Sullivan. Sullivan had two brothers and one sister (William M., Donald R., and Terri Anne) and he grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. Sullivan went to Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia and obtained a BA in Political Science from Old Dominion College, where he was in the Theta Chi Fraternity. In June of 1970, in Norfolk, Virginia, Sullivan married his first wife, Karen Jean Lea, and they did not have any children. Sullivan moved to St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida in 1972. Sullivan divorced and then in December of 1975 in Pinellas County, he married his wife, June Emily Hougarrd, and they did not have any children.
Sullivan started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg in 1974 and worked three years as a uniformed patrol officer. Sullivan applied to work as an undercover Vice and Narcotic Detective, and he started in that position in March of 1977. On 18 Aug 1980, at approximately 1300 hours, Sullivan was working with other undercover narcotic detectives as a participant in the purchase of a large quantity of cocaine. Sullivan parked his unmarked, gray, Chevy pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Save Inn, located at 2260 54 Avenue North. Sullivan’s partner, Detective Harry Herbst, was his passenger and Herbst exited their vehicle and went inside the hotel to initiate the narcotic purchase. Sullivan was waiting in the truck with a large quantity of cash to complete the purchase. None of the back-up units had a visual of Sullivan, so no one observed the suspect, Sammie Lee Mathis, approach the truck and open fire on Sullivan, hitting him multiple times in the chest. Sullivan was treated on scene and rushed to Hubert Rutland Hospital, but was pronounced deceased at 1516 hours. The investigation was assisted by a City worker who was driving north on Interstate 275 and witnessed Mathis run down the embankment to a vehicle in the emergency lane with the hood up. The following day detectives were able to arrest Mathis and he confessed to the murder. Detectives also learned about a co-defendant in the shooting named William G. Haake. Haake had fled the country to Spain, but was later extradited back to Pinellas County and both suspects received a sentence of life in prison.
Detective Sullivan was survived by his parents; his wife, June E.; and his three siblings listed above. Sullivan was described as an officer, who truly believed in police work, and Chief Mack Vines advised that Sullivan had a recent letter of commendation for solving a narcotic problem near a citizen’s home. A St. Petersburg Times reporter, advised that they knew Sullivan personally and that Sullivan was always enthusiastic about his career in policing. The service for Sullivan was held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross and a large procession led to the burial at the Woodlawn Memory Gardens cemetery. At age 30 and with 6 years of service, Detective Herbert Ray Sullivan was the twelfth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Sullivan started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg in 1974 and worked three years as a uniformed patrol officer. Sullivan applied to work as an undercover Vice and Narcotic Detective, and he started in that position in March of 1977. On 18 Aug 1980, at approximately 1300 hours, Sullivan was working with other undercover narcotic detectives as a participant in the purchase of a large quantity of cocaine. Sullivan parked his unmarked, gray, Chevy pick-up truck in the parking lot of the Save Inn, located at 2260 54 Avenue North. Sullivan’s partner, Detective Harry Herbst, was his passenger and Herbst exited their vehicle and went inside the hotel to initiate the narcotic purchase. Sullivan was waiting in the truck with a large quantity of cash to complete the purchase. None of the back-up units had a visual of Sullivan, so no one observed the suspect, Sammie Lee Mathis, approach the truck and open fire on Sullivan, hitting him multiple times in the chest. Sullivan was treated on scene and rushed to Hubert Rutland Hospital, but was pronounced deceased at 1516 hours. The investigation was assisted by a City worker who was driving north on Interstate 275 and witnessed Mathis run down the embankment to a vehicle in the emergency lane with the hood up. The following day detectives were able to arrest Mathis and he confessed to the murder. Detectives also learned about a co-defendant in the shooting named William G. Haake. Haake had fled the country to Spain, but was later extradited back to Pinellas County and both suspects received a sentence of life in prison.
Detective Sullivan was survived by his parents; his wife, June E.; and his three siblings listed above. Sullivan was described as an officer, who truly believed in police work, and Chief Mack Vines advised that Sullivan had a recent letter of commendation for solving a narcotic problem near a citizen’s home. A St. Petersburg Times reporter, advised that they knew Sullivan personally and that Sullivan was always enthusiastic about his career in policing. The service for Sullivan was held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross and a large procession led to the burial at the Woodlawn Memory Gardens cemetery. At age 30 and with 6 years of service, Detective Herbert Ray Sullivan was the twelfth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
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Gravesite Details
National Law Enforcement Memorial: Panel 6 - W: line 6
