Deputy Joseph V. Conte, 47, was killed on July 11, 1979, in Fort Lauderdale while escorting prisoners from the Broward County Jail to a medical office. Conte had joined the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in 1976 after serving in the U.S. Navy.

The killing occurred when an escape plan was executed: prisoner Gary Eaton, with help from his girlfriend Dawn Sobel and a hired gunman, John Gombos, arranged to free Eaton. As Conte led Eaton from the detention van to the doctor’s office, Gombos ambushed and shot him. Investigators later arrested those involved; Gombos was convicted of second-degree murder and aiding an escape, Eaton was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted escape, and Sobel was convicted of second-degree murder.

A Broward County medium custody inmate housing facility was named for Deputy Conte in May 1999.