Roll of Honor
Incident
Detention Deputy Tony Bruce died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Bay County Jail at 5700 Star Lane in Panama City.
Deputy Bruce had served with the Bay County Sheriff's Office for over two years and had previously served with the Corrections Corporation of America for over 12 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Detention Deputy Tony Lee Bruce died on September 27, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 55.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, and four stepchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-E4515B18- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detention Deputy Bruce gave the Bay County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Panama City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Deputy Bruce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detention Deputy Tony Lee Bruce is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 81 of 1,008 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Bay County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 5 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tony Lee Bruce's cause is highlighted.
How Tony Lee Bruce Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Tony Lee Bruce is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Bay County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
