Terry N. Thuma
Agency patch
Investigator

Terry N. Thuma

Orlando Police Department — Orlando, FL
Felonious
End of Watch January 9, 1990
Age 40
Tour of Duty 19 yrs 6 mo
Badge 77
The Vigil Panel 135 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Terry Thuma died of complications caused by a gunshot wound he received 13 years prior.

Investigator Thuma was paralyzed from the breast bone down, between vertebrae T5 and T6, after being shot while serving a drug warrant on July 23, 1977. He came down with a fast acting pneumonia and died in his sleep on January 9, 1990, as a result.

The suspect who shot Investigator Thuma was apprehended but acquitted of the charges.

At the time of his death, Investigator Thuma had served with the Orlando Police Department for over 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-8FBEA5C9
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Thuma gave the Orlando Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Thuma.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Orlando, Orange County, FL
Platform Identity opd.orange.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 9, 1990
Tour of Duty 19 yrs 6 mo
Age 40
Badge Number 77
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Investigator Terry N. Thuma 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 97,772 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 Orlando Police Department, 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Orlando Police Department
10
of 16 officers
62.5% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terry N. Thuma's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Terry N. Thuma Compares

Age at Death
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
19.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terry N. Thuma is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Terry N. Thuma was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909