CLERMONT, Fla. – Lake County hosted the farewell to honor a fallen deputy this weekend, but it was a moment for all of Central Florida.
Saturday, Master Deputy Bradley Link was honored with a service at Real Life Christian Church in Clermont.
Those at the celebration of Link’s life talked of his admirable and virtuous demeanor, a man slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to understand who dedicated and ultimately gave his life to his community, protecting it in a way bolstered by the quality of what his widow, Brittany, said made him “the perfect example of who God called man to be for his wife.”
“Brad was an exceptional human being. Truly a living, breathing angel. He was selfless with his time, his energy, and most of all, his love. He carried himself with a quiet confidence, slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to understand. We met in high school and one day in class he told the visitor that I didn’t know it, but he was going to marry me one day. We graduated. He went off to the Army basic training and AIT and we stood in touch with handwritten letters, and I would spray the letters with my perfume so he could feel close to me. His heartbeat was fueled by humble servitude, fueled by the desire to make a difference everywhere he went, but he never took credit for a thing. He truly was a little boy at heart. He loved lights of all kinds, from lights on a patrol car to Christmas lights. He loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and going to Magic Kingdom. He led me with wisdom and servitude daily, the perfect example of who God called man to be for his wife. He took care of me since we were 18 years old — I never knew what a bill looked like — to make sure all my dreams came true through his hard work and loyalty. Brad was gentle, funny and sweet. I always called him ‘my teddy bear,’” she said. “I want to let you know what you can do for Brad to honor him. Love each other without restraint, be kind to all and have faith that God is good. Have Bradley’s heart for the needy, the broken, the rejects and the lonely. I truly believe he’s still taking care of me from heaven by sending me all of you.”
Deputy Link was shot and killed Friday night, Aug. 2, while responding to a disturbance call in rural Eustis. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says the deputies were directed to a second home on Brookside Drive by a woman whose family was waiting with a stockpile of weapons. Two other deputies were also shot.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell in his statements Saturday announced Link was posthumously awarded the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor and Purple Heart, going on to describe more of the harrowing reasons why.
Link had just completed a security detail when he was on his way home the night of Aug. 2, soon texting his wife that that he was going to be “a little late” upon hearing radio traffic regarding a fight in progress that he intended to respond to, according to Grinnell.
Link and other deputies then made their way into a home thinking that a possible home invasion had taken place there, Grinnell said before recounting the tragic outcome and, further, revealing a disturbing detail of the unusual cruelty that the suspects who shot and killed the beloved law enforcement officer were capable of.
“Brad was shot several times with a high-powered rifle and collapsed to the ground. In a hell of gunfire and while attempting to crawl for cover, Brad immediately began returning suppressing fire until he was out of ammunition. His bravery and will to fight allowed the other deputies to safely retreat out of the home. An immediate rescue attempt of Brad was met with overwhelming gunfire and resulted in an additional deputy being shot,” Grinnell said. “Unaware of this chaotic and tragic event, and concerned for her husband as it was getting late, Brittany called his cellphone. One of the assailants in the home removed Brad’s phone from his person and answered that phone call. The assailant asked Brittany, ‘Who is this?’ Brittany stated, ‘I am Brad’s wife. Who are you?’ To which the assailant responded, ‘So you say that you are supposedly the dead man’s wife?’ That will forever be the worst phone call of Brittany’s life.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office manual provides the following descriptions of the recognitions that Link was awarded Saturday:
Medal of Honor: Awarded for an outstanding act in the line of duty, at imminent personal hazard of life, with full knowledge of the risk involved.
Purple Heart: Awarded to an employee who, while in the line of duty, received a severe wound inflicted by an assailant. An assailant does not necessarily have to be armed with a weapon to inflict severe injury. The size, age and physical abilities of the assailant and the deputy are factors the Committee shall consider.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office manual (excerpt)
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News 6 reporter Catherine Silver spoke one-on-one with lead pastor Justin Miller ahead of this weekend’s celebration of life.
“You lose a sheriff’s deputy, but really the loss is felt across all law enforcement, all of Central Florida and beyond. (...) Really, it’s a family,” Miller said. “What law enforcement officers go through in our world today, it’s just next level, and for me as a pastor I have an extra level of grace and support and love for those who serve and protect us.”
Miller said Master Deputy Link and his wife both attended Real Life Christian Church together.
“Actually, two nights before he was killed, he was at our men’s night here at a table, being prayed for, and sharing about his life,” Miller said. “Just a really down to Earth, cool person.”
Miller shared a memory he has with Link, who was recognized for his mustache.
“One of the things I love, the first time we met I was drawn to the mustache and I said, ‘Man, she must really love you to let you have that thing,’ and she just grabbed me and said, ‘I really do,’ and it was beautiful,” Miller recalled.
Since Aug. 2, the support and sympathy has been shared by all of Lake County.
“I can’t explain the feeling you have, knowing you have a deputy sheriff that is shot up inside of a home, and you can’t get him out,” Grinnell said at a press briefing Monday.
Grinnell said Master Deputy Link heroically served his community until the very end. He was steadfast in his service and a hero for Lake County and law enforcement.
“I know you’re hurting,” Grinnell said. “Please know that you’re loved and appreciated, and this community loves and appreciates you, and together we are going to get through this.”
Master Deputy Link first became part of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as a young Explorer. The Sheriff’s Office says he was a graduate of Lake Minneola High School. He served in the Army Reserve before he was hired as a deputy sheriff by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in 2017.
In October 2019, he joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, where deputies say he “quickly became part of our family and faithfully served our citizens with courage and zeal.”
Master Deputy Link is survived by his wife, Brittany, and by his parents, Christi and Daniel.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has said his death is a tremendous loss for the agency and the community he served. He will be remembered for his service and his sacrifice.
Miller said he would love to see people leave Saturday with hope.
“With encouragement, realizing what seems like a tragic and senseless act, there still could be beauty and hope from it,” Miller said. “Good things can come from this bad, and beauty can come from this brokenness, and if God can use us at all to bring that message — not just to the people in attendance but really the community at large — I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for Master Deputy Link’s wife and family to help with funeral expenses. Find it by clicking here.
Watch the celebration of life ceremony again in the video player below or by clicking here.
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