Roll of Honor
Clarence G. Backherms
Incident
Detective Bud Backherms died from complications sustained from a gunshot wound he received 29 years earlier while attempting to thwart a burglary in progress at 11:40 pm at 325 US Highway 27 in Southbay.
While making a phone call at a payphone, Detective Backherms was confronted by three subjects. One of the men threw a bottle and struck him in the head. Another subject was armed with a pistol. He realized that an armed robbery was in progress. Detective Backherms attempted to get to his vehicle to retrieve his weapon and stop the subjects when the man with the gun fired three rounds at him. He was struck once in the abdomen. Despite being seriously wounded, he was able to radio for help and provide an accurate description of the subjects and describe the bottle thrown at him.
The fingerprints from the bottle led to the identity of one of the suspects, which ultimately led to the identity of three other suspects. A 16-year-old subject took a plea deal in agreement to testify against the others. He received seven years. A second subject, age 20, pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and received six years and nine months. The third subject, age 18, pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery with a firearm and was sentenced to seven years plus an additional five years for violating parole. The fourth subject, age 18, who fired the gun, was sentenced to 15 years with a mandatory six years.
Detective Backherms was able to serve nine more years with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office but had to medically retire due to complications and multiple surgeries from the bullet wound.
Detective Backherms was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for 18 years and in law enforcement for 26 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, five children, and 13 grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-FF384AB0- Stewardship
- 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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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.
Detective Backherms gave the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the West Palm Beach community. 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
Clarence G. Backherms served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Detective Clarence G. Backherms is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence G. Backherms's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence G. Backherms Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence G. Backherms is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence G. Backherms was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Clarence G. Backherms served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Clarence G. Backherms’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
