Manatee County Remembers Fallen Officers in Courthouse Memorial Ceremony
Community members and law enforcement personnel from across Manatee County gathered Thursday morning outside the county courthouse for the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service, honoring officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Representatives from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Bradenton Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and other agencies stood in tribute as the names of ten fallen heroes were read aloud. Following each name, a uniformed deputy, officer, or trooper placed a flower on the memorial. Family members of several fallen officers also stepped forward to honor their loved ones with flowers.
Among those remembered was Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Young, who was killed in the line of duty in 1987. Sheriff Rick Wells, who was working in the area at the time, reflected on the loss.
Wells shared his personal connection during the ceremony, recalling the night Young was killed. “I remember that night, I remember being on the Interstate trying to find his killer,” he said.
Wells also revealed plans by the Manatee County Fraternal Order of Police to honor Trooper Young with a life-size statue at the memorial site. The project is currently accepting donations to support its creation.
The ceremony served as a solemn tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the protection of the community, and a reminder that their legacy will not be forgotten.
