Howard Daniel Starling
Incident
Sergeant Howard Starling suffered a fatal heart attack while chasing an escapee through a swamp.
Sergeant Starling was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for six years. He was assigned to the Florida State Prison.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Howard is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Starling gave the Florida Department of Corrections 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Howard Daniel Starling served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Florida Department of Corrections has lost 33 officers; 6 of them lost to cardiac events.
Howard is one of 62 officers lost to cardiac events in FL, 6.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Howard is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Howard is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1964, 1 officer at Florida Department of Corrections was lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
In 1964, 1 officer in FL was lost to cardiac events, the 17th heaviest of 39 years on record. The heaviest was 2017, with 4.
In 1964, 15 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 34th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1964, 15 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 34th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Howard was 46. Of the 6 lost to cardiac events at Florida Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 50.5; the middle age was 44.5. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Howard was 46. Of the 61 lost to cardiac events in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 49. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
Howard was 46. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Howard was 46. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
July holds 33.3% of these deaths at Florida Department of Corrections; January holds the most, 33.3%. Saturdays: 33.3%.
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in FL; May holds the most, 19.4%. Saturdays: 11.3%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.4%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 18.2% of all 33 deaths at Florida Department of Corrections, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 6.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 4.8% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 1.5% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 1.5% of these deaths.
His people
Florida Department of Corrections has 33 officers remembered here, Howard among them.
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James G. Godwin
Apr 4, 1955
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Howard Daniel Starling
Jul 4, 1964
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Lester B. Sumner
Apr 26, 1965
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James W. Parr, Sr.
Aug 11, 1966
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Paul Jordan
Jan 24, 1976
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Lauriston F. Hustus, Jr.
Jul 16, 1980
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Richard James Burke
Oct 12, 1980
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Bjorn Thomas Svenson
Aug 31, 1982
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Donald L. Pawlizak Apr 21, 1983
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John S. Dennard
May 5, 1983
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Michael Peter Serano
Jan 6, 1984
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Fred Sidney Griffis
Jun 24, 1987
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Hoyt L. Ergle
Dec 15, 1987
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Charles Andrew Cooper
Sep 15, 1988
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Kenneth M. Hendrick
Jan 28, 1993
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Lee Charles Dunn
Jan 24, 2000
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Darla Kay Lathrem
Jun 11, 2003
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Donna Fitzgerald
Jun 25, 2008
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Adam Michael Sanderson
Mar 6, 2009
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Gregory Guy Malloy
Feb 2, 2011
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Ruben Howard Thomas, III
Mar 18, 2012
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Jorge Ramos
May 1, 2016
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Joseph Ossman
Sep 10, 2017
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Tawanna V. Marin
Jun 18, 2018
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Nicklaus Dustin Knight May 12, 2019
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Robert Wayne Rogers
Jul 31, 2020
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Jack Sale Stewart
Feb 13, 2021
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William Scott Fox
Mar 4, 2021
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John Annarumma
Mar 6, 2021
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Derek Stewart
Apr 28, 2021
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Whitney Nicole Cloud
Aug 28, 2021
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Kelly Jo Klimkowski
Sep 28, 2021
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James Alexander Jackson
Aug 15, 2025
Where
Military Service
Howard Daniel Starling served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Howard Daniel Starling’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Florida Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.














