A Nassau County, FL, deputy was shot in the face early Friday at a traffic stop. He is in very critical condition.
Deputy Joshua Moyers initiated a traffic stop at around 2:30 a.m., FirstCoastNews reports.
The sheriff said: "He (Deputy Joshua Moyers) is just a great guy. ... We’re not sure if he’s going to make it or not. I talked with his mother and father and his fiancé. They were planning their wedding. I just ask that everybody keep them in their prayers."

Nassau County, FL, deputy Joshua Moyers is in very critical condition after being shot at a traffic stop early Friday. (Photo: Nassau County SO)
A Nassau County, FL, deputy was shot in the face early Friday at a traffic stop. He is in very critical condition.
Deputy Joshua Moyers initiated a traffic stop at around 2:30 a.m., FirstCoastNews reports.
While attempting to get information from the driver, Moyers learned that he did not have a driver's license and the tags on the vehicle were registered to a vehicle that was stolen in Jacksonville. The driver then gave the deputy a false name, Sheriff Bill Leeper said.
When Moyer tried to get the man to step out of the car, “The driver’s arm came out of the window and shot the deputy one time right here,” Leeper said pointing under his right eye. “As the deputy fell down, he (suspect) reached out and shot him in the back.”
The suspect then sped off.
The suspect—identified by law enforcement as Patrick McDowell—is the subject of a manhunt.
The sheriff said: "He (Moyers) is just a great guy. ... We’re not sure if he’s going to make it or not. I talked with his mother and father and his fiancé. They were planning their wedding. I just ask that everybody keep them in their prayers."

Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.
Read More →
An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.
Read More →
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →