10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 17
Ron Cochran Public Safety Building
2601 W. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale
The Broward Sheriff’s Office will hold a memorial service Thursday in honor of six BSO deputies and a Lauderdale Lakes police officer killed in the line of duty.
On November 14, 1972, Lauderdale Lakes Officer Jerry Genova, a 30-year-old motorcycle patrolman, suffered massive injuries when he hit a car that turned into his path while he was in pursuit of another motorcycle. He was in a coma for five days before he died.
Deputy Patrick Behan died on November 13, 1990 as he sat in his patrol car writing a report. Behan had responded to a theft at a Pembroke Park convenience store and was in the store’s parking lot when he was shot at point blank range. Formerly with the Boca Raton Police Department, Deputy Behan had joined BSO weeks before the shooting.
Deputy Brian Tephford joined BSO in 2001 as a deputy assigned to the Main Jail. In 2003, he transferred to the Department of Law Enforcement and was assigned to BSO’s Tamarac district. On the evening of November 11, 2006, he was working a special detail when he conducted a traffic stop in a Tamarac apartment building parking lot. Deputy Corey Carbocci arrived as his back-up. Moments later, a volley of gunfire erupted, seriously wounding Deputy Carbocci and mortally wounding Deputy Tephford. At his memorial service, Deputy Tephford was described as a true hero who loved his family and served his community with honor.
Deputy Paul Rein was shot and killed while conducting a prisoner transport on the morning of November 7, 2007. During his 20-year career with BSO, Deputy Rein worked in the Department of Detention’s Central Intake providing prisoner transport. He was a proud member of BSO’s Honor Guard. Dep. Rein was well-liked and respected by his colleagues.
Deputy Michael Doane died on Christmas Eve 1999 as a result of massive injuries he suffered in a crash while responding to a nightclub shooting scene in Lauderdale Lakes on December 12, 1999. BSO Deputy Al Hibbert, working outside, confronted the gunman and was shot and wounded. Deputy Doane raced to the scene to help search for the fleeing gunman and was northbound on State Road 7 when he swerved to avoid a car, colliding head-on with two parked vehicles.
Deputy Michael Metroka died December 15, 1997 from injuries he sustained in an on-duty hit-and-run car crash on November 29th. Dep. Metroka was a member of the BSO K-9 unit, and his loyal partner, Woedon, was with him when the crash occurred. The dog, who survived the impact, remained with his partner until he was extracted from the wreckage and transported to the hospital.
Deputy James Hillberry was the second BSO deputy to be killed in the line of duty on Dec. 4, 1964 when he was shot in the chest by a suspect during a routine traffic stop.
During the Thursday morning service, the honor guard will present the colors, a wreath will be hung on the memorial wall, a bugler will play taps, and Sheriff Al Lamberti and others will say a few words in remembrance of the fallen deputies and officer.
