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Deputies Honor Dozens Of Fallen Officers

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Deputies in Broward paid tribute to dozens of fallen heroes from various law enforcement, fire rescue and detention departments.

In total, 32 fallen heroes were honored during the Broward Sheriff's Office Annual Memorial on Tuesday.

The memorial - open to the public- was held in the front of the Ron Cochran Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale. A 21-gun salute was part of the event, as was a somber video showing scenes of funerals for BSO deputies.

Sheriff Scott Israel had a few words for those who died in the line of duty including Deputy Arthur Fillebrown who died at the age of 24 - three weeks into his job.

"It's been said better to be a lion for one day than a sheep for 100 years and make no mistake about it although your heroes were taken from us far too soon, they were absolute lions and I'm honored to share the same profession as them," said Israel.

Among the others remembered were Deputy Todd Fatta who was 33-years old when he was shot and killed while serving a search warrant at the Fort Lauderdale home of a registered sex offender.

Also honored, was Sergeant Chris Reyka who was gunned down while checking on a suspicious car outside a Pompano Beach store. He was 51-years old at the time. His killer has never been caught.

Ashley Steele - whose father was Sgt. Reyka- attended the memorial with her two year old daughter Savannah.

"I think appreciation that they take time every year to remember. I know law enforcement does but this gives us all a chance to take a moment from our busy lives," said Steele.

Sgt. Reyka has a son who is a BSO deputy and a daughter who is in the police academy.

As the late officers' names were read a bell was chimed for each officer killed on the job followed by a moment of silence for fallen heroes.

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