Todd Jerome Thurow

Todd Jerome Thurow was raised in Centreville, located in southwestern Michigan. After graduating from Centreville High School, Mr. Thurow studied criminal justice at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his under-graduate studies, he accepted a position with the Cassopolis Police Department and worked as a police officer while attending classes on a full-time schedule.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1995, Mr. Thurow relocated to Florida. Over the following nine years he was employed as a deputy with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and then as a police officer at the Sarasota Police Department.  During his tenure in law enforcement, Mr. Thurow attended numerous advanced training seminars including courses in: DUI Field Sobriety Testing; Breath Test/Intoxilyzer Operator Permit; Sex Crimes Investigations; Drug and Narcotic Investigations, Interviews and Interrogations; Radar Certification Field Training Officer and Instructor. Mr. Thurow was involved in two high profile cases that resulted in him being named in two books. One book, Every Breath You Take, authored by Ann Rule, involved the homicide of Shelia Bellush, a woman murdered after her millionaire ex-husband Alan Blackthorne contracted to have her killed. The other book is Diane Fanning’s Into the Water, written about Richard Marc Evonitz, a serial killer of teenage girls.

After 11 years in law enforcement, Mr. Thurow changed his focus to a career in law and enrolled at Stetson University’s College of Law in Gulfport, FL. While in law school, he was the recipient of the Paul Barnard Award for Clinic Excellence, awarded for his performance in representing indigent clients while enrolled in the Public Defender Clinic.  After law school, Mr. Thurow accepted a position as an Assistant Public Defender in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Clearwater, and he then transferred to Dade City. While at the Office of the Public Defender, Mr. Thurow handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases.

During this time, he also pursued a Masters Degree in Business Administration at Stetson University and is scheduled to graduate in May of 2012. Mr. Thurow is a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Thurow earned a reputation as a criminal defense attorney who would not shy away from challenging prosecutors, the police, and evidence in a case. He was extremely active filing motions in court that frequently resulted in key evidence being ruled inadmissible at trial, helping Mr. Thurow to win successful outcomes for his clients.  Mr. Thurow represented indigent clients in an aggressive manner, resulting in numerous cases being either dismissed entirely or reduced after negotiations with prosecutors representing the State of Florida.  Mr. Thurow’s experience as a police officer has been a priceless asset to his clients. As a former police officer, Mr. Thurow is frequently asked how he could switch sides and go from enforcing the laws to defending people against criminal charges. Mr. Thurow’s answer is very simple: “It’s not about switching sides, it’s about protecting peoples’ rights under the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

Mr. Thurow is also a Realtor and is actively involved in assisting buyers and sellers with real estate transactions. He is married to Christine Bala Thurow, the daughter of Tampa area doctors Sam and Rosario Bala. Mr. Thurow and his wife Christine have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys watching baseball games, playing baseball, fishing and spending time with his family.

• Western Michigan University (B.S., 1995)
• Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 2006)
• Stetson University School of Business Administration (M.B.A., 2012)

• Member of the Florida Bar
• Former Assistant Public Defender (Clearwater/Dade City), 6th Judicial Circuit
• Member of Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Paul Barnard Award recipient given for outstanding representation of clients during the Public Defender Clinic
• Former Police Officer