Remembering Deputy Killed in the Line of Duty
May 3rd marked the anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Alexander.
Deputy Alexander died in a traffic accident May 3rd, 1998 while working road patrol for the Sheriff’s Office in the Key Largo district.
He had just left roll call at the Plantation Key Substation and was on the way to his duty station at the Ocean Reef Resort. For some reason, he pulled off of the highway and onto Val Jean Way, in Tavernier. He was stopped at a stop sign at Val Jean Way and Highway U.S. One when he pulled out into the path on an oncoming semi-tractor trailer truck, and was broad sided on the driver’s side of his vehicle by the truck.
Deputy Alexander had worked for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for just less than a year. He’d previously worked for the Miami-Dade Police Department for 16 years, leaving that department as a lieutenant. He worked the midnight shift as a deputy at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. He was also on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
There hasn’t been a police officer truly killed in the line of duty in Monroe County in over a century. All deaths since then have been accidental. At least two sheriff’s deputies have died and one FHP officer have died in auto accidents in the last decade. The two sheriff’s deputies were females who were killed responding to actions that were none of their business. Tragic.
Rather than saying “killed in the line of duty”, I believe the phrase “died while on duty” is a more accurate representation of local affairs.
@ Dr. Larry Murray, Thank you, I had considered that but didn’t want to be the one to point it out.
Still a shame regardless of why or how or what you call it. Will assume he was tired or distracted.