T. A. Burnham
On January 9, 1981, 27-year-old Deputy Burnham was fatally shot with his own service weapon while searching for an abduction suspect near Lakeland Regional Airport. During the encounter on Dranefield Road, a struggle ensued with the suspect—who had already killed two others earlier that day—resulting in the deputy’s death.
Sgt Sollie Waller Rabun Jr.
On March 13th, 1974, Sergeant Rabun was responding to conduct a follow up investigation in an area southeast of Winter Haven. At approximately 1:20 p.m., his vehicle was struck by a train at the rail road crossing, located on Hoover Road, north of SR 655, in Eloise. Sergeant Rabun died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained during the crash.
Sergeant Rabun was 26 years old at the time of his death.
Paul A. Powell
On May 26, 1967, Deputy Powell was enroute to his duty station. At approximately 3:14 PM, his vehicle was struck by a train on South Crystal Lake Drive, east of U.S.
Highway 98 South, in Lakeland. Deputy Powell died at the scene as a result of the injuries sustained during the crash.
Deputy Powell was 26 years of age at the time of his death.
Leon A. Bernard
On April 9, 1963, 51-year-old Deputy Benard was off-duty when he spotted two armed robbery suspects fleeing a Bartow shopping center. He pursued the vehicle toward State Road 60, but upon reaching Lake Garfield Road, he was confronted and fatally shot by one of the suspects who had exited the vehicle.
J. Edward Harrelson
On December 21, 1926, 35-year-old Deputy Harrelson was fatally shot while intercepting two armed robbery suspects north of Lakeland. Following the encounter, the suspects fled on foot under fire from the deputy’s father and brother. Deputy Harrelson was transported to Lakeland General Hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his wounds.
Oliver Thomas Smith
On January 16, 1922, 29-year-old Deputy Smith was fatally shot while attempting to arrest a suspect at the Hartzog Sawmill in Nalaca. The suspect, wanted for an earlier attempted shooting of a sawmill foreman over a financial dispute, ambushed the deputy during the arrest. After hiding in the woods for several days, the suspect eventually surrendered to authorities.