Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputies Gene Wilkinson and Larry Rhoden were killed when their department helicopter crashed into a small pond near Lakeland, Florida at approximately 0200 hours, during a period of dense fog.
Deputy Wilkinson was the pilot of the Bell OH-58 helicopter. The two deputies were returning from a call when the crash occurred.
Deputy Wilkinson had been employed with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for seven years, and is survived by his wife and son.
Survivors
Deputy Wilkinson had been employed with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for seven years, and is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-BD87AB51- 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 Wilkinson gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wilkinson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Gene Brian Wilkinson 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 Polk County Sheriff's Dept., 9 of 18 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gene Brian Wilkinson's cause is highlighted.
How Gene Brian Wilkinson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gene Brian Wilkinson is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Polk County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
