Ricky Carlton Anderson
Deputy Sheriff

Ricky Carlton Anderson

Polk County Sheriff's Department — Winter Haven, FL
Cardiac
End of Watch February 21, 2016
Age 50
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 165 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ricky Anderson suffered a fatal heart attack while preparing equipment to respond to a call involving approximately 12 cows that were running loose in a neighborhood.

Deputy Anderson had been called in early to assist at the scene. He began to feel ill and returned home, where he collapsed. He was transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center where he passed away a short time later.

Deputy Anderson had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for eight years and was assigned to the Agricultural Crimes Unit. He had previously served with the Fort Meade Police Department for 18 years. He is survived by his wife, son, twin daughters, mother, and sister. His son also serves as a sheriff's deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, twin daughters, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

26 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Anderson gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Anderson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Winter Haven, Polk County, FL
Platform Identity pcso.polk.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 2016
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Ricky is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2016, 17 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 21st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ricky was 50. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Ricky had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Polk County Sheriff's Department has 18 officers remembered here, Ricky among them.

VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Ricky Carlton Anderson

Polk County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch February 21, 2016

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W

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