Terry N. Thuma
Agency patch
Investigator

Terry N. Thuma

Orlando Police Department — Orlando, FL
Felonious
End of Watch January 9, 1990
Age 40
Tour of Duty 19 yrs 6 mo
Badge 77
The Vigil Panel 135 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Terry Thuma died of complications caused by a gunshot wound he received 13 years prior.

Investigator Thuma was paralyzed from the breast bone down, between vertebrae T5 and T6, after being shot while serving a drug warrant on July 23, 1977. He came down with a fast acting pneumonia and died in his sleep on January 9, 1990, as a result.

The suspect who shot Investigator Thuma was apprehended but acquitted of the charges.

At the time of his death, Investigator Thuma had served with the Orlando Police Department for over 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Investigator Thuma gave the Orlando Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Thuma.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Orlando, Orange County, FL
Platform Identity opd.orange.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 9, 1990
Tour of Duty 19 yrs 6 mo
Age 40
Badge Number 77
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Terry is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1990, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Terry was 40. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Terry had served 19.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Orlando Police Department has 16 officers remembered here, Terry among them.

Investigator Terry N. Thuma

Orlando Police Department · End of Watch January 9, 1990

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E

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