Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Gene DeBerry succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash on February 1, 1966. While on traffic patrol, Patrolman DeBerry attempted to overtake a speeding vehicle near the Memorial Boulevard Overpass and Omohundro. He lost control of his motorcycle when it skidded on sand in the road. He was thrown from his motorcycle and hit a concrete piling. The crash left him permanently paralyzed, and through the years, he endured over 14 surgeries and dialysis. On January 14, 1985, he succumbed to his injuries. Patrolman DeBerry had served with the Lakeland Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, mother, two brothers, and a sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-7FA55B05- 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.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman DeBerry gave the Lakeland Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Lakeland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman DeBerry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Eugene E. DeBerry 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 Lakeland Police Dept., 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eugene E. DeBerry's cause is highlighted.
How Eugene E. DeBerry Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Eugene E. DeBerry is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Lakeland Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
