Florida Police Officer Killed In Motorcycle Crash

LAKELAND, FL — A Florida police officer was killed early Thursday when he apparently lost control of his Harley-Davidson Police Road King motorcycle while riding to work, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The officer was identified as 50-year-old Paul Dunn of the Lakeland Police Department. Dunn was described by Lakeland police as a beloved member of the agency's motor unit since 2013. Thursday's crash occurred on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that Lakeland Police Department Officer Paul Dunn has passed away from injuries sustained in an on-duty traffic crash," Lakeland police said.

Brian Bruchey of the sheriff's office said the single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:45 a.m. in the northbound lane of Lakeland Highlands Road just south of Lake Miriam Drive. Police said it was dark at the time of the crash.

"For reasons unknown, at this time, the motorcycle collided with and drove over a raised concrete median between the north and southbound lanes," Bruchey said. "This caused Officer Dunn to lose control of the motorcycle."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said nurse practitioner Laura L. Lewis performed CPR on the officer before emergency personnel from Polk Fire Rescue arrived. She was passing by the crash site on her way to work.

"The nurse practitioner immediately began CPR when she said that the officer had a faint pulse that went to no pulse at all," Judd said, adding that other people also stopped following the crash, including the wife of a Polk County sheriff's deputy.

"Common sense would dictate that he was driving in the lane of travel and some other vehicle forced him off of the roadway, but we don't have any evidence at all to prove that at this point in the investigation," Judd said.

The crash site is in an unincorporated section of Polk County, which is why the investigation is being conducted by the sheriff's office.

"Officer Dunn and the motorcycle came to rest in the inside left lane of the northbound roadway," Bruchey said. "Officer Dunn was transported to the hospital and declared deceased at 6:53 a.m. this morning at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center."

Bruchey said investigators were still trying to determine what caused the crash.

"It is unknown at this time if another vehicle is involved," he said.

Watch as Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefs reporters on the death of the Lakeland police officer:

Lakeland-Highlands Road south of Lakeland was closed in both directions between Clubhouse Road and Lake Miriam Drive as a result of the crash.

"Please keep Officer Dunn’s family and all those who loved him in your thoughts and prayers, as we are grieving this huge loss to our agency and our community," Lakeland police said, adding that Dunn was married with three adult children, including a daughter and two sons.

"Both sons are currently serving in the armed forces," Lakeland police said. "Dunn is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps."