The pink clay bricks anchoring the Fallen Officers Memorial at Southwest Florida Public Provider Academy reflect honor, company and perseverance.
Monday morning the 42nd and 43rd bricks were being extra to the memorial in Fort Myers to commemorate two men struck down during the pandemic — Sgt. William Diaz and Sgt. Steven Mazzotta from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office environment.
“I am so thankful, so grateful for all of you, your support,” Natalie Diaz, spouse of William Diaz, stated in the course of the memorial ceremony. “I am happy to have everyone right here by my facet. Thank you for loving my husband, thank you for loving my daughter, and, just, thank you absolutely everyone. I genuinely enjoy it.”
The two Sheriff’s Workplace workers died from complications linked to COVID-19 a little more than two months of just about every other in 2021, Diaz on Aug. 16 and Mazzotta on Aug. 31.
Diaz was a recruit of the 151st Corrections Academy course which graduated in July of 2018. He was attending the 85th Corrections to Legislation Enforcement Crossover class at the time of his passing.
Mazzotta graduated from the Fundamental Corrections Academy in July 2003 and from the Corrections to Regulation Enforcement Crossover Academy in January 2005.
“My major worry is to drop a family member,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno explained, incorporating that the news of the two men’s passing was devastating to the company. He frequently refers to the adult men and females of the business office as family.
“The two Steven and William experienced shiny futures in advance of them and were unfairly taken by this cruel virus,” Marceno explained. “The occupation of a legislation enforcement officer is never easy, and it can take a particular person to response the phone and devote their life to serving other folks. Equally Steven and William will generally have a special place in our hearts.”
Marceno then escorted associates of equally families to the unveiling of the bricks honoring Mazzotta and Diaz.
“We are grateful this morning to be standing below to honor Sergeant Mazzotta and Sergeant Diaz by positioning their names amid these who have specified their life for the protection of some others,” said Public Provider Academy Director Todd Everly ahead of commencing the devotion.
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The brick-lined plaza was set up at the Academy in 2013 with bricks symbolizing neighborhood regulation enforcement officers who died in the line of duty up to that issue.
Other Lee County regulation enforcement organizations also experienced losses because of COVID in 2021.
Florida Highway Patrol trooper Brian Pingry died from COVID complications in 2021.
A member of the Fort Myers Law enforcement Division, Shawn Boone, a dispatcher, died in early August, also from difficulties relevant to COVID-19.
In 2021, for the next 12 months in a row, COVID-19 was the primary lead to of death for active-responsibility regulation enforcement nationally with 301 these kinds of fatalities, according to the National Legislation Enforcement Memorial and Museum.
The Southwest Florida General public Services Academy is certified by the Florida Department of Legislation Enforcement’s Prison Justice Criteria & Coaching Commission to coach learners to become Florida Condition Licensed Police Officers, Correctional Officers, Probation & Parole Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters.
Hook up with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Fb), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@information-press.com.
