Son of slain deputy among honorees
Sheriff’s personnel awarded in ceremony
FORT LAUDERDALE— He wears his father’s badgenumberand patrols the same city where his father, Sgt. ChrisReyka, gave his life in the line of duty nine years ago.
Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Reyka, 28, was injuredlastOctoberby a suspectwhoallegedly twice drove a Mercedes-Benz sedan at him during amiddle-of-the-night traffic stop. His fatherwas fatallyambushedby a gunman in 2007, also during a middle-ofthe-night stop.
“Hopefully this is the last time I’m getting this award,” Sean Reyka said of the Silver Cross, given for his calm actions in a deadly situation.
Recovered from bad bruises and strains to his elbow, lower back and hips, Reykawas one of scores of sheriff’s personnel recognizedTuesday at the Parker Playhouse during the agency’s awards ceremony.
Police departments across the country are under scrutiny after incidents involving misconduct or brutality, and a Broward Sheriff’s deputy is suspended and charged with manslaughter in the on-duty fatal shooting of a civilian. Though Tuesday’s ceremony is an annual event, it came at an important time for agency morale, Sheriff Scott Israel said.
“Since Ferguson [Mo., where in 2014 a black manwas shot by a police officer, leading to riots and federal investigations of the police department], I am getting more positive feedback than ever. People feel compelled to come up to me and say, ‘Sheriff, we love our deputies. We love our firefighters.’
“The public loves law enforcement. The public just demands that law enforcement be given in a manner where you treat the people with dignity and respect. Andwe do.”
Deputies, firefighters and regular folks were honored, as were teams from11agency departments and community organizations for saving lives, facing danger and performing public service.
Jennifer Montgomery was named Detective of the Year for her online undercover work hunting sex traf-