Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Charlie Bruce succumbed to injuries he received when he was involved in a motorcycle crash on Wednesday, August 3, 1983, at 12:45 p.m. Patrolman Bruce was traveling north on Atlantic Boulevard when a vehicle made an illegal U-turn in front of him. He was unable to avoid hitting the side of the vehicle, and he flew into the air. The impact of the crash and the force of hitting the ground caused his helmet to fall off. He was transported to North Beach Community Hospital, where he was unable to recover from a fractured pelvis and injuries to his chest, abdomen, and head and died three weeks later. The driver was charged with making an improper U-turn. Patrolman Bruce was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-9E3A24C5- 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.
Patrolman Bruce gave the Fort Lauderdale Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Lauderdale 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles E. Bruce served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Charles E. Bruce 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 Fort Lauderdale Police Dept., 9 of 13 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles E. Bruce's cause is highlighted.
How Charles E. Bruce Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles E. Bruce is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
