Volusia County, FL - A Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputy has been chosen as the 2017 Florida Sheriffs Association's (FSA) Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Deputy Justin Ferrari was chosen for this honor because of his courage in the line of duty. In July of last year, body camera video shows Ferrari responding to a domestic disturbance where a man open fired inside his home which he shared with his wife, Victoria Rosado, and her 3 kids. The man shot Rosado in the leg and Deputy Ferrari immediately ran towards her and brought her to a neighbor's home.
Ferrari ran back to help the 3 children to safety as they ran from the house crying. Once Ferrari got them all to safety, he went back to help his fellow officers arrest the man, Emmanuel, who walked out of the back of his home and surrendered.
“They tell you to resort to your training, which is true but, this was completely instinctual. I never would have thought that’s how I would have reacted prior to it happening," says Ferrari. "You just never know until it happens.”
“When we say law enforcement officers run toward danger as others run away, this is exactly the type of situation we are talking about,” says Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood. “The deputies who responded to the shooting incident in Deltona didn't hesitate; their instincts and training kicked in. Deputy Justin Ferrari represents what we all in law enforcement stand for: honor, integrity, service and courage.”
At the annual FSA summer conference banquet, Ferrari was given a standing ovation from more than 250 law enforcement officers and supporters.
(Photo courtesy of the VCSO)
“The sacrifices these men and women make daily go beyond what most people would ever do,” says Orange County Sheriff and FSA President, Jerry Demings. “When I hear about deputies facing these situations with courage, I feel honored to be serving alongside them. “Our deputies are the best men and women in their profession," says Steve Casey, the Executive Director of the FSA. "When we have deputies confronting these types of situations the way Deputy Ferrari did, and apply what they are taught in training, it’s a testament to the fact that Florida’s sheriffs set the bar for the nation.” “Deputy Ferrari is a terrific example of the outstanding law enforcement officers who serve the citizens of the state of Florida," says Allen Durham, President and CEO of Star & Shield Insurance, the company that sponsors the award. "We are greatly appreciative to Deputy Ferrari for his incredible actions and to the Florida Sheriffs Association for honoring him as their 2017 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.”
(Photo courtesy of the VCSO)
To learn more about Ferrari and to see some of his body camera footage, go here. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
