A motorcycle officer with the Lakeland Police Department was killed in a crash Thursday morning, and local authorities are investigating what led to the deadly incident.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Paul Dunn, 50, was headed to work about 5:45 a.m. Thursday. While riding his agency-issued motorcycle, Dunn lost control of his motorcycle, ran over a raised median and eventually landed inside the left lane of Lakeland Highlands northbound, according to ABC Action News in Tampa Bay. The officer was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 7 a.m.
It’s not clear what caused the driving error or if another vehicle was involved, officials said Thursday.
Dunn had been with Lakeland police since 2013. He was also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He leaves behind a wife, a daughter and two sons, who are serving in the armed forces, according to a post by the Lakeland Police Department. The department wrote a tribute to Dunn on its Facebook page Thursday morning.
“... He was a beloved member of our motor unit,” the post reads. “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.”
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