Florida Department of Corrections, Florida
End of Watch Tuesday, August 31, 1982
Add to My HeroesBjorn Thomas Svenson
Probation Supervisor Bjorn Svenson was shot and killed after being ambushed by a parolee. The parolee had served six years of a life sentence and had already been sent back to prison once by Supervisor Svenson.
Supervisor Svenson was leaving work late one night, unarmed, when the parolee ambushed him in the parking lot of his office at 1850 NW 183rd Street in Dade CountyAfter emptying his weapon, he reloaded it and shot Supervisor Svenson twice more.
The 37-year-old suspect had spent half of his life in prison for robbery, shooting a state trooper, and several other crimes. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. As of November 26, 2020, he was on Florida's death row.
Supervisor Svenson had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 33
- Tour 10 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to death
Most Recent Reflection
View all 12 ReflectionsBjorn "Thomas" Svenson. of Line of Duty death!
I recruited Tom as he was getting ready to graduate from the University of South Floria in Tampa. Tom was originally from Sarasota County Fl. At that time we were staff of the FL Parole & Probation Commission. He was a very professional and hard worker who advanced rapidly in a rapidly growing agency. Tom had a young child , I had the honor to present his wife with scholarship funded by a Criminal Justice Professional that I was a member of. His name is on the wall in Washington DC along with other officer who were killed in the line of duty
Circuit Administrator. J. "Jake&quo
FL. Dept of Corrections - Parole & Probation Service ( Retired)
September 3, 2020
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