In Memoriam

Deputy Sheriff Cleveland Jacobs

End of Watch September 14, 1922

September 14^th marks the Anniversary of the line of duty death of Deputy Sheriff Cleveland Jacobs.

Deputy Sheriff Cleveland Jacobs was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for stealing a pair of pants.  Deputy Sheriff Jacobs located the man at his home and went to the front door.  As he stood at the front door, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Sheriff Jacobs in the chest.

The suspect was arrested and convicted of the murder.  He was sentenced to death and later hanged. His hanging was the only hanging in Seminole County history.

In Memoriam

Deputy Sheriff Robert O. Moore

End of Watch June 9, 1975

June 9th, marks the Anniversary of the line of duty death of Deputy Sheriff Robert O. Moore.  

Deputy Sheriff Moore made the ultimate sacrifice when he succumbed to smoke inhalation and intense heat exposure while rescuing inmates during the Seminole County Jail fire on June 9, 1975.

Deputy Sheriff Moore had successfully rescued several inmates, having brought them to safety, before heroically re-entering the burning jail his final time, in yet another attempt to save other trapped inmates. Eleven people, ten inmates and Deputy Sheriff Moore, perished in this fire intentionally set by an inmate.  

December 29^th, marks the Anniversary of the line of duty death of Deputy Sheriff George Pfiel.  Deputy Sheriff Pfiel made the ultimate sacrifice after being mortally wounded when he interrupted an armed robbery at the Longwood Village Pharmacy.  Deputy Sheriff Pfeil, having just completed a special detail, was in uniform and entered the pharmacy to get a prescription filled when the incident occurred.

One of the suspects was sentenced to death and executed in 2000, two other suspects were subsequently murdered and the fourth suspect was sentenced to prison.

Deputy Sheriff Pfeil was a retired New York City police officer who served as a reserve deputy sheriff after moving to Florida.   

In Memoriam

Deputy Sheriff Hugh E. Thomas Jr.

End of Watch March 28, 1989

March 28th, marks the Anniversary of the line of duty death of Deputy Sheriff Hugh Thomas.  At 24 years of age, Deputy Sheriff Thomas made the ultimate sacrifice after being  shot and killed while responding to a domestic related prowler call in Geneva.  When he arrived, he was shot by the suspect with a semi-automatic rifle. The suspect then committed suicide.  The suspect had recently been released from jail and was stalking his girlfriend. 

Deputy Sheriff Thomas is considered to be a pioneer in neighborhood policing.  He was ahead of his time in that he embraced the philosophy of community policing in his day-to-day service, before the concept had the label we’ve given it today.

Deputy Sheriff Thomas is memorialized in Seminole County by having the H.E.Thomas Jr. Pkwy. named in his honor, a law enforcement scholarship created in his honor, and child safety fun books in his name.  He served the agency for 5 years and is survived by his fiancée, mother, and brother.  

In Memoriam

Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory

End of Watch July 8, 1998

July 8th, marks the Anniversary of the line of duty death of Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory.

Deputy Sheriff Gregory made the ultimate sacrifice after being mortally wounded while handling an aggravated assault call involving an armed mentally ill person.

Deputy Sheriff Gregory exemplified the spirit of community policing in his day-to-day service and his death served as the inspiration for the community and the Sheriff's Office to take a proactive role in mental health intervention and treatment that continues to this day.