Leon Alexander Bernard

Polk County Sheriff's Dept. — Winter Haven, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 9, 1963

Age 51

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Deputy Leon Bernard was shot and killed while following two armed robbery suspects. Deputy Bernard was an off-duty jailer when he observed the robbery of a Bartow Finance Company and began following the vehicle. The vehicle stopped near Lake Garfield, and the passenger confronted Deputy Bernard and shot him. The suspects, a man and his wife, both 37, and parents of six children, were arrested an hour later and charged with murder. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Deputy Bernard was a Canadian military veteran.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, twin granddaughters, seven brothers, and six sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-EA84C1E6
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

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.
Deputy Sheriff Bernard served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Winter Haven, FL

Platform Identity pcso.polk.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 9, 1963

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Leon Alexander Bernard served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Leon Alexander Bernard is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Polk County Sheriff's Dept., 7 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.9% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Dept.

of 18 officers

38.9% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious