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Monument Honoring Slain Wildlife Officer to be Dedicated

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: October 5, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS, FL - TARPON SPRINGS, FL - A monument honoring slain state wildlife officer Margaret "Peggy" Park will be dedicated Monday.

The polished stone marker will be unveiled during an Oct. 8 ceremony from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Brooker Creek Preserve, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A representative of Gov. Charlie Crist and law enforcement, emergency services and land management officials will join family and friends of Park at the dedication ceremony, according to a press release.

On the night of Dec. 13, 1984, Park, 26, was patrolling in this portion of northeastern Pinellas County. She spotted a van parked in a wooded area and approached the vehicle.

In the ensuing confrontation Park was beaten 20 to 30 times with her flashlight and then shot in the back of the head with her .357-Magnum service revolver.

Martin Grossman, who was on probation and living in Pasco County at the time of the incident, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He remains on death row.

Grossman, 19 at the time, and a friend, Thayne "Tommy" Taylor, then 17, had gone to the wooded area to fire a stolen handgun. Park was attacked after discovering the gun while searching the van.

Grossman attacked Park and beat and shot her when she tried to radio the Pinellas Sheriff's Office for assistance. Grossman had pleaded with Park not to report the discovery because he was violating his parole by having the gun and being outside Pasco County.

Taylor, who was tried along with Grossman and convicted in connection with Park's death, served two years and 10 months of a seven-year prison sentence and was then released.

Taylor, who confessed, told investigators he became incapacitated when Park kicked him in the groin while fighting for her life.

Park's death spurred improvements to the training of female law enforcement officers.

In October 2006 a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a bid by Grossman to have his murder conviction overturned. Among other things, Grossman unsuccessfully argued in the appeal he and Taylor should have been tried separately because of Taylor's confession.

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