Deputy Sheriff Theron Anthony Burnham
Polk County Sheriff's Office
Florida
End of Watch: Friday, January 9, 1981

Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 137

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, January 9, 1981
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death

Deputy Burnham was shot and killed with his own weapon after being dispatched to investigate a suspicious person walking on a roadway near Lakeland Airport at 4:00 am. Unbeknownst to Deputy Burnham, the man had just committed two murders earlier in the evening and was under the influence of narcotics at the time. Other responding deputies exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who evaded capture until a manhunt the next day.

The suspect was sentenced to death after three trials.

Deputy Burnham had served with the agency for 9 years. He was survived by his wife.