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Fallen officers remembered in murals

SANFORD, Fla. — Family members of fallen law enforcement officers from Central Florida came to see and take photos of a very unique memorial now on display on East First Street in downtown Sanford.

Eventually, street artist Jeff Sonksen plans to permanently display his work along Ronald Reagan Blvd in Longwood.

He used fence boards, nailed together and painted, to create larger than life murals of some two dozen fallen officers including, most recently, Deputy Norman Lewis who died while responding to the January shooting of Orlando Police Sgt. Debra Clayton.

The sister of fallen five-year veteran Windermere police officer Robert German told us “It’s a great tribute, it really keeps their memory alive,” said Kelly German.

Another person memorialized is Orange County Deputy Sheriff Grady Braddock, who was killed in 1998 when a vehicle involved in a pursuit struck his patrol car. It was his first night back to work after a family tragedy, according to his widow who came to see the paintings, too.

“We never forget. We’re never going to forget, but you often think they’re (the public) not going to remember the incident.”

She said she was grateful the community continues to remember their fallen law enforcement officers.

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