Sollie Waller Rabun Jr.

Polk County Sheriff's Department — Winter Haven, FL

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch March 3, 1974

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 17

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wally Rabun was killed when his patrol car was struck by a train at 1:20 p.m. at a crossing on Hoover Road in Eloise. He was en route to an investigation when he crossed over the tracks that did not have gates or warning lights. Deputy Rabun was a United States Navy Vietnam veteran who had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and previously served with the Bartow Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and infant son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-E3C61E42
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.
Deputy Sheriff Rabun gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
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 Department

Type Other

Location Winter Haven, Polk County, FL

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1974

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Sollie Waller Rabun Jr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Sollie Waller Rabun Jr. is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Polk County Sheriff's Department, 9 of 18 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Department

of 18 officers

50% Accident

FL — Statewide

313

of 1,008 officers

31.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident