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ROLL CALL OF HEROES

1885 - 2008

2009

Detention Sergeant Ronnie Brown
Polk County Sheriff's Office

End of Watch: Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 2896

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: Sunday, August 30, 2009
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: In custody

Sergeant Ronnie Brown passed away as a result of complications from injuries inflicted by an inmate one week earlier.

The inmate, who was in custody on a murder charger, had refused to leave his cell in the South County Jail and broke the head off of a sprinkler. As Sergeant Brown and another deputy attempted to extract him from the cell the inmate shoved him against a wall and then onto the floor. Other deputies pulled Sergeant Brown from the cell and then closed the door.

The next morning Sergent Brown was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital to be treated for his back injury. The following afternoon he was taken to a second hospital where it was discovered that his back had been fractured. He underwent surgery the following day.

On September 8th Sergeant Brown's wife discovered him passed away in his hospital room after arriving for a visit.

Corporal Mike Roberts
Tampa Police Department

End of Watch: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Corporal Mike Roberts was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person in the Sulphur Springs area of the city. He noticed the man pushing a shopping cart along the roadway and stopped to question him.

During the questioning the man began to struggle with Corporal Roberts. The suspect produced a handgun and struck Corporal Roberts several times before shooting him once the chest. The round struck him in an area not protected by his vest.

Corporal Roberts' sergeant pulled up as the man began to flee. The man then pulled an AR-15 rifle from his shopping basket, pointed it at the sergeant, and then fled on foot. The sergeant then provided aid to Corporal Roberts, who was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The suspect surrendered a short time later after being located by a canine unit. He was armed with three handguns and the rifle when he was taken into custody.

Corporal Roberts had served with the Tampa Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son.

Police Officer Giovanni Gonzalez
Miami-Dade Police Department

End of Watch: Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Police Officer Giovanni Gonzalez was killed when his patrol car collided with a dump truck on Florida's Turnpike between Southwest 120th Street and Southwest 152nd Street.

Corrections Officer Mark Parker
Orange County Sheriff's Office

End of Watch: Thursday, March 19, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, January 10, 1984
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 2000

Corrections Officer Mark Parker succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on January 10, 1984, in the Orange County Courthouse.

A suspect had gone to the courthouse with the intention of shooting a police officer who had given him a traffic ticket. The suspect entered a courtroom and exchanged gunfire with Deputy Harry Dalton, mortally wounding him. He then shot and killed Deputy Arnold Wilkerson in the courtroom and shot at the judge, but missed.

After exiting the courtroom he exchanged shots with another deputy in hallway. Officer Parker, who was unarmed, was caught in the crossfire while attempting to shield citizens in the hallway. He was left paralyzed from the chest down and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life.

The suspect was convicted of murder and executed in June of 2000. Officer Parker attended the execution.

Corrections Officer Adam Sanderson
Florida Department of Corrections

End of Watch: Friday, March 6, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 44548

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Friday, March 6, 2009
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available

Corrections Officer Adam Sanderson was killed in automobile crash when the driver of a vehicle fleeing the scene of a stabbing struck the DOC van head-on in Union County.

Officer Sanderson, who was driving the van, was killed in the crash and a second officer was injured. The two officers were conducting a perimeter check while participating in a mock escape drill at the the time.

The suspect driving the truck, who was also a Department of Corrections employee, was also killed in the crash.

Captain Scott Bierwiler
Hernando County Sheriff's Office

End of Watch: Thursday, February 19, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 23 years
Badge Number: 206

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
Date of Incident: Thursday, February 19, 2009
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Captain Scott Bierwiler was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a teenage driver on Powell Road, just south of Brooksville.

Deputy Sheriff Burton (Burt) Lopez
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

End of Watch: Saturday, April 25, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 195

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Deputy Burt Lopez and Deputy Skip York were shot and killed while attempting to locate a domestic dispute suspect at sporty clays and shooting center.

The suspect fled the scene and was later shot and killed by other deputies in Walton County when he opened fire on them during a pursuit.

Deputy Lopez had served with the agency for six years. He is survived by his wife and children.


FGIA Law Enforcement Memorial Page We Honor the Fallen


Home Stop Music Statue designed by: LAWRENCE REID BECHTEL		ROLL CALL OF HEROES 1885 - 2008 2009 Detention Sergeant Ronnie Brown Polk County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 48 Tour of Duty: 20 years Badge Number: 2896 Incident Details Cause of Death: Assault Date of Incident: Sunday, August 30, 2009 Weapon Used: Person Suspect Info: In custody Sergeant Ronnie Brown passed away as a result of complications from injuries inflicted by an inmate one week earlier. The inmate, who was in custody on a murder charger, had refused to leave his cell in the South County Jail and broke the head off of a sprinkler. As Sergeant Brown and another deputy attempted to extract him from the cell the inmate shoved him against a wall and then onto the floor. Other deputies pulled Sergeant Brown from the cell and then closed the door. The next morning Sergent Brown was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital to be treated for his back injury. The following afternoon he was taken to a second hospital where it was discovered that his back had been fractured. He underwent surgery the following day. On September 8th Sergeant Brown's wife discovered him passed away in his hospital room after arriving for a visit. Corporal Mike Roberts Tampa Police Department End of Watch: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 38 Tour of Duty: 11 years Badge Number: Not available Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire Date of Incident: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Weapon Used: Handgun Suspect Info: Apprehended Corporal Mike Roberts was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person in the Sulphur Springs area of the city. He noticed the man pushing a shopping cart along the roadway and stopped to question him. During the questioning the man began to struggle with Corporal Roberts. The suspect produced a handgun and struck Corporal Roberts several times before shooting him once the chest. The round struck him in an area not protected by his vest. Corporal Roberts' sergeant pulled up as the man began to flee. The man then pulled an AR-15 rifle from his shopping basket, pointed it at the sergeant, and then fled on foot. The sergeant then provided aid to Corporal Roberts, who was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect surrendered a short time later after being located by a canine unit. He was armed with three handguns and the rifle when he was taken into custody. Corporal Roberts had served with the Tampa Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son. Police Officer Giovanni Gonzalez Miami-Dade Police Department End of Watch: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 23 Tour of Duty: Not available Badge Number: Not available Incident Details Cause of Death: Automobile accident Date of Incident: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Weapon Used: Not available Suspect Info: Not available Police Officer Giovanni Gonzalez was killed when his patrol car collided with a dump truck on Florida's Turnpike between Southwest 120th Street and Southwest 152nd Street. Corrections Officer Mark Parker Orange County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Thursday, March 19, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 44 Tour of Duty: 1 year Badge Number: Not available Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire Date of Incident: Tuesday, January 10, 1984 Weapon Used: Handgun Suspect Info: Executed in 2000 Corrections Officer Mark Parker succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on January 10, 1984, in the Orange County Courthouse. A suspect had gone to the courthouse with the intention of shooting a police officer who had given him a traffic ticket. The suspect entered a courtroom and exchanged gunfire with Deputy Harry Dalton, mortally wounding him. He then shot and killed Deputy Arnold Wilkerson in the courtroom and shot at the judge, but missed. After exiting the courtroom he exchanged shots with another deputy in hallway. Officer Parker, who was unarmed, was caught in the crossfire while attempting to shield citizens in the hallway. He was left paralyzed from the chest down and required round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life. The suspect was convicted of murder and executed in June of 2000. Officer Parker attended the execution. Corrections Officer Adam Sanderson Florida Department of Corrections End of Watch: Friday, March 6, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 32 Tour of Duty: 10 years Badge Number: 44548 Incident Details Cause of Death: Vehicular assault Date of Incident: Friday, March 6, 2009 Weapon Used: Automobile Suspect Info: Not available Corrections Officer Adam Sanderson was killed in automobile crash when the driver of a vehicle fleeing the scene of a stabbing struck the DOC van head-on in Union County. Officer Sanderson, who was driving the van, was killed in the crash and a second officer was injured. The two officers were conducting a perimeter check while participating in a mock escape drill at the the time. The suspect driving the truck, who was also a Department of Corrections employee, was also killed in the crash. Captain Scott Bierwiler Hernando County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Thursday, February 19, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 42 Tour of Duty: 23 years Badge Number: 206 Incident Details Cause of Death: Automobile accident Date of Incident: Thursday, February 19, 2009 Weapon Used: Not available Suspect Info: Not available Captain Scott Bierwiler was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a teenage driver on Powell Road, just south of Brooksville. Deputy Sheriff Burton (Burt) Lopez Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Saturday, April 25, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 44 Tour of Duty: 6 years Badge Number: 195 Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire Date of Incident: Saturday, April 25, 2009 Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type Suspect Info: Shot and killed Deputy Burt Lopez and Deputy Skip York were shot and killed while attempting to locate a domestic dispute suspect at sporty clays and shooting center. The suspect fled the scene and was later shot and killed by other deputies in Walton County when he opened fire on them during a pursuit. Deputy Lopez had served with the agency for six years. He is survived by his wife and children. Deputy Sheriff Warren (Skip) York Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Saturday, April 25, 2009 Biographical Info Age: 44 Tour of Duty: 2 years Badge Number: 260 Incident Details Cause of Death: Gunfire Date of Incident: Saturday, April 25, 2009 Weapon Used: Not available Suspect Info: Shot and killed Deputy Skip York and Deputy Burt Lopez were shot and killed while attempting to locate a domestic dispute suspect at sporty clays and shooting center. The suspect fled the scene and was later shot and killed by other deputies in Walton County when he opened fire on them during a pursuit. Deputy York had served with the agency for two years. He is survived by his wife and children.