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Incident
Police Officer Tanja King was killed when her cruiser struck a light pole while she was responding to an emergency assistance call.
While traveling east on L.B. McLeod Road, she skidded, and her patrol vehicle left the roadway, striking a light pole. The collision caused the concrete light pole to fall on top of the cruiser and trapped Officer King inside. Emergency crews were able to extricate her, and she was flown to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Officer King was a member of the same unit as Officer George DeSalvia, murdered three months earlier while on duty.
Officer King had been in law enforcement for four years and had served with the Orlando Police Department for two years.
Officer King has been memorialized in Orlando, Florida, with a park named Tanja King Memorial Park and a street named after her, Tanja King Boulevard.
Survivors
Survivors include her parents, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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.
Police Officer King gave the Orlando Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Orlando Police Department has lost 16 officers; 6 of them lost to accidents.
Tanja is one of 314 officers lost to accidents in FL, 31.2% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Tanja is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Tanja is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer at Orlando Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2000, 5 officers in FL were lost to accidents, the 14th heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 9.
In 2000, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2000, 91 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Tanja was 30. Of the 6 lost to accidents at Orlando Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 36.8 and 53; the middle age was 43. Tanja had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Tanja was 30. Of the 293 lost to accidents in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 35. Tanja had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Tanja was 30. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Tanja had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Tanja was 30. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Tanja had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 16.7% of these deaths at Orlando Police Department; November holds the most, 33.3%. Thursdays: 16.7%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in FL; February holds the most, 10.5%. Thursdays: 11.8%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 37.5% of all 16 deaths at Orlando Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.2% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Her people
Orlando Police Department has 16 officers remembered here, Tanja among them.
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James W. Williams
Jan 1, 1876
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William Beasley Jan 1, 1885
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Egbert C. Moore
Aug 6, 1933
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Edward Tullis Winn, Jr.
Sep 13, 1935
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Harry Grassman Mason Feb 20, 1937
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John E. Owen
Aug 4, 1962
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Sidney Crenshaw
Nov 22, 1966
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Mitchell L. Nutter
Feb 10, 1968
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Terry N. Thuma
Jan 9, 1990
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Michael Wayne Burson Sr.
Jun 23, 1990
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Robert Joseph Montgomery
Nov 10, 1998
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George Stefan DeSalvia
Feb 3, 2000
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Tanja Brigitte King
May 18, 2000
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Alfred L. Gordon, Sr.
Oct 4, 2007
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Debra Lucinda Clayton
Jan 9, 2017
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Kevin Andres Valencia
Mar 15, 2021
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Orlando Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
