Roll of Honor
Incident
Wildlife Officer Donald Thornbury drowned following an airboat accident while he was patrolling the Everglades in Broward County. His body was found two days later floating in a canal on the south side of Alligator Alley near the 46-mile marker, approximately 21 miles west of the Fort Lauderdale toll booth. The Miccosukee Tribal Police Department had only ten officers at the time of Wildlife Officer Thornbury's death. They had recently started a wildlife law enforcement program within the agency. Wildlife Officer Thornbury had served with the Miccosukee Tribal Police Department for 10 months. He had previously served as an auxiliary police officer with the Markleville, Indiana, Police Department for three years and with the Edgewood, Indiana, Police Department as an officer for four years.
Survivors
Wildlife Officer Thornbury was survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TR-91828A09- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Donald. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Wildlife Officer Thornbury gave the Miccosukee Tribal Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Wildlife Officer Thornbury.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Wildlife Officer Donald Dante Thornbury is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Miccosukee Tribal Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Dante Thornbury's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Dante Thornbury Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Dante Thornbury is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Miccosukee Tribal Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
