Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Theron Burnham was shot and killed after being dispatched to investigate a kidnapping near the Lakeland Regional Airport. A young couple had given a stranger a ride. When near the airport, the man produced a pistol, ordered the couple to stop, and then ordered the man to get out of the car. The woman fled from the scene in the car and called police. As Deputy Burnhman responded to the scene, he spotted the suspect walking along Drane Field Road at Industry Boulevard. The man shot and killed Deputy Burnham as he tried to detain him at about 4:00 a.m. Other responding deputies exchanged gunfire with the man, who was arrested the following day following a massive manhunt. Deputy Burnham's body was found in a ditch along Drane Field Road, and the body of the man he ordered out of the car was found nearby. The subject was sentenced to death after three trials. He died in prison in 2023. Deputy Burnham had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for nine years and had previously served with the Winter Haven Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-1D367D41- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Burnham gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Burnham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Theron Anthony Burnham 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Theron Anthony Burnham's cause is highlighted.
How Theron Anthony Burnham Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Theron Anthony Burnham is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Theron Anthony Burnham was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Polk County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
