Daniel S. Carlton, was 35 when he became the second Sheriff of St. Lucie County. Previously, he had served as city marshal of Fort Pierce when it was incorporated in 1901. He became Sheriff in 1907 and served until his death, May 22, 1915.
Sheriff Carlton was remembered as a fearless and fair man. When he was Sheriff, the county jail was located at his home in Fort Pierce.
Sheriff Carlton was involved in a shootout in the middle of the business district of Fort Pierce and was fatally wounded. Sheriff Carlton was taken to Dr. H.D. Clark's office where he later died. Daniel S. Carlton was the first member of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to be killed in the line of duty.