Line of Duty Deaths

Every day, Florida’s law-enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety of the public. More than 20,000 officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the United States and it is with great honor that the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association pays tribute to those Florida deputies who gave their lives while protecting the citizens of Florida.

The Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association mourns the loss of those killed in the line of duty.

2023

Sergeant Michael Kunovich
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: May 19, 2023
Cause of Death: Medical Distress

2022

Corporal Ray Hamilton
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: December 24, 2022
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Christopher Taylor
Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 22, 2022
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane
Polk County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: October 4, 2022
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 22, 2022
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

Officer Cesar "Echy" Echaverry
Miami-Dade Police Department, FL
EOW: August 17, 2022
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2021

Deputy Josh Welge
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: October 26, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Joshua Moyers
Nassau County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 26, 2021
Cause of Death: Homicide

Deputy Michael Neau
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 5, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Detective Tommy Breedlove
Hernando County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 4, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Detention Sergeant William Prevatt
Sumter County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 2, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy William Diaz
Lee County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 31, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Clint Seagle
Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 29, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Detention Deputy Paul Luciano
Flagler County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 26, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Douglas Clark
Manatee County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 25, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Michael Webb
Osceola County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 25, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Harry Cieszynski
Brevard County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 23, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Christopher Broadhead
Polk County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 23, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Jody Hull
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 21, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Michael Taylor
Sumter County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 16, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy First Class Steven Mazzotta
Lee County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 16, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Craig Seijos
Orange County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 13, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Correctional Deputy Michael Nowak
Leon County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 12, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Lieutenant Lonny Hempstead
Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 10, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Carlos Antonio Hernandez
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 11, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Sergeant Shane Owens
Broward County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: March 27, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Michael Magli
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: February 17, 2021
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

Deputy Jack Gwynes
Nassau County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: February 3, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Auxiliary Sergeant Louis M. Livatino
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 27, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Jacinto R. Navarro, Jr.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 19, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Corporal Brian LaVigne
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 11, 2021
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

Deputy Brian Faison
Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: January 2, 2021
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

 

2020

Sergeant James LaRue
Seminole County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 21, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Sergeant Eric Twisdale
Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 16, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Angela Chavers
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: September 12, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Maurice Ford
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 27, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Charles Pugh
Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 18, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Lieutenant Aldemar Rengifo
Broward County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 16, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related ILlness

Lieutenant Chris Cunningham
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: August 5, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness 

Master Detention Deputy Richard Barry
Lake County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: July 16, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness 

Master Deputy Lynn Jones
Lake County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: June 24, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness 

Sergeant Jose A. Diaz-Ayala
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 4, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

Deputy Shannon Bennett
Broward County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 3, 2020
Cause of Death: Duty-Related Illness

 

2019

Deputy Sheriff Benjamin Nimtz
Broward County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: July 21, 2019
Cause of Death: Automobile crash

 

2018

Police Officer Jermaine Thomas Brown
Miami-Dade Police Department, FL
EOW: December 12, 2018
Cause of Death: Accidental

Deputy Sheriff Benjamin LeMont Zirbel
Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW:  August 21, 2018
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash

Police Officer Lance Christian Whitaker
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: May 15, 2018
Cause of Death: Automobile crash

Deputy Sheriff William Jackson Gentry, Jr.
Highlands County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: May 7, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Noel Ramirez-Beltran, Jr.
Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 19, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Taylor Fletcher Lindsey
Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: April 19, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Kevin James Stanton
Brevard County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: February 17, 2018
Cause of Death: Automobile crash

 

2017

Deputy Michael Ryan
Broward County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: December 31, 2017
Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Captain Charlie Scavuzzo
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: September 15, 2017
Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Deputy Julie Bridges
Hardee County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: September 10, 2017
Cause of Death: Vehicle Accident

Deputy Norman Lewis
Orange County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: January 09, 2017
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

 

2016

2015

Deputy William J. Myers
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: September 22, 2015
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Christopher Smith
Leon County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: November 22, 2014
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Mark H. Larson
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: March 24, 2014
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

2014

Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine
Orange County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: February 11, 2014
Cause of Death: Gunfire 

2013

Deputy Daniel Rivera
Broward County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: September 21, 2013
Cause of Death: Automobile accident 
Background: Broward County Sheriff's Office release

Corporal Michael Wilson
Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: August 5, 2013
Cause of Death: Gunfire 
Background: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office release

Master Deputy Joseph "Shane" Robbins
Polk County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: April 26, 2013
Cause of Death: Traffic accident 
Background: Polk County Sheriff's Office release

Sgt. Gary Morales
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: February 28, 2013
Cause of Death: Gunfire 
Background: St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office release