Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Monday, October 22, 2001
Add to My HeroesGene Brian Wilkinson
Deputies Gene Wilkinson and Larry Rhoden were killed when their department helicopter crashed into a small pond near Lakeland, Florida at approximately 0200 hours, during a period of dense fog.
Deputy Wilkinson was the pilot of the Bell OH-58 helicopter. The two deputies were returning from a call when the crash occurred.
Deputy Wilkinson had been employed with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for seven years, and is survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 7 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
Related LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Larry Rhoden
Polk County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: October 22, 2001
Most Recent Reflection
View all 32 ReflectionsRest in peace deputy Sheriff Wilkinson. A Sunshine state hero.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
December 13, 2018
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Kyle Olinger
Montgomery County Police Department, MD
EOW: April 18, 2019
Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn, Jr.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division, MN
EOW: April 19, 2019
Deputy Sheriff Justin Richard DeRosier
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, WA
EOW: April 14, 2019
Sergeant Steven L. Licon
California Highway Patrol, CA
EOW: April 6, 2019
Deputy Sheriff II Spencer Allen Englett
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: April 4, 2019
Detective Benjamin J. Campbell
Maine State Police, ME
EOW: April 3, 2019
Trooper Gerald Wayne Ellis
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: March 30, 2019
Trooper Brooke Jones-Story
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: March 28, 2019
Deputy Sheriff Peter Herrera
El Paso County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: March 24, 2019