National Police Week: The FL Officers Who Died In Line Of Duty

LAKELAND, FL — Fourteen Florida law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty will be honored as part of the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers converge on the nation’s capital for the event, which will be held Wednesday, May 15.

The names of local, state and federal law enforcement officers nationwide who died on duty will be read. Here are the officers who will be recognized from Florida:

• Jermaine T. Brown
  • End of watch: 12/12/18
  • Miami-Dade Police Officer Jermaine Brown, a 15-year veteran of the force, died following an ATV crash while conducting an enforcement detail along a canal, according to an article published on Miami Patch.
• Thomas M. Coulter
  • End of watch: 5/21/18
  • The 25-year-old Daytona Beach officer collapsed during a training exercise after achieving his life-long dream of becoming a police officer, reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
• William J. Gentry Jr.
  • End of watch: 5/7/18
  • Highlands County Deputy Sheriff William Gentry died of a gunshot wound one day after he responded to an animal abuse call in which a homeowner's cat had been killed with a pellet gun, according to his Officer Down Memorial Page.

• Jorge L. Gil Jr.
  • End of watch: 2/29/16
  • Haines City Police Officer Jorge Gil passed away after suffering a stroke while on duty. Prior to suffering the stroke, he responded to several emergency calls, according to his Officer Down Memorial Page.
• Adam E. Jobbers-Miller
  • 7/28/18
  • Fort Myers Police Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller died of a gunshot wound after responding to an assault and larceny call at a gas station, said his Officer Down Memorial Page.
• Taylor F. Lindsey
  • 4/19/18
  • Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey and Sergeant Noel Ramirez-Beltran of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office were shot and killed during a lunchtime ambush at a restaurant in Trenton, Florida.
• Tawanna V. Marin
  • 6/18/18
  • Florida Department of Corrections Officer Tawanna Marin was supervising an inmate work crew when she was struck by a vehicle in Coconut Creek.
• Larry E. Marrero
  • 11/28/18
  • A veteran Miami Beach detective who was "revered" by peers and supervisors, suffered a heart attack at police headquarters and later passed away, according to an article on Miami Patch.

• Noel Ramirez Beltran
  • 4/19/18
  • Sgt. Noel Ramirez-Beltran and Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office were shot and killed during a lunchtime ambush at a restaurant in Trenton, Florida.
• Michael D. Ryan
  • 12/31/17
  • Deputy Sheriff Michael Ryan of the Broward County Sheriff's Office suffered a fatal heart attack following a foot pursuit in the parking lot of the Main Jail, according to his Officer Down Memorial Page.
• Charles F. Scavuzzo
  • 9/15/17
  • Captain Charlie Scavuzzo of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office died from a massive heart attack several days after Hurricane Irma struck the area, according to the sheriff's office.
• Kevin J. Stanton
  • 2/17/18
  • Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stanton of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office was killed when his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer on I-95, according to his Officer Down Memorial Page.
• Lance C. Whitaker
  • 5/15/18
  • Police Officer Lance Whitaker with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was killed in a single-vehicle crash on northbound I-295, his Officer Down Memorial Page explained.
• Benjamin L. Zirbel
  • 8/21/18
  • Deputy Sheriff Ben Zirbel died of injuries he received in a motorcycle crash along Blanding Boulevard, his Officer Down Memorial Page said.

President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week as Police Week. The Memorial Service began 20 years later with about 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement gathering in Senate Park, according to the event’s website. Since then, it has grown to attract up to 40,000 attendees every year. The event, best known as National Police Week, features a series of events, including seminars and a candlelight vigil.

A 5K race will be held Saturday, the first day of National Police Week, along with the annual police dog memorial service. Sunday events include the Law Enforcement United Bike Ride, the Police Unity Tour and the DC United First Responder Night.

Those events will be followed by a candlelight vigil Monday night on the National Mall and the annual Steve Young National Honor Guard and Pipe Band competitions Tuesday.

The two-hour memorial service will begin around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Annual Tent City events, featuring music, food and adult beverages, will be held Monday through Wednesday at RFK Stadium.

Patch staffers Dan Hampton and Deb Belt contributed to this report.