House Bill 9125

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HR 9125

        By Representative Sublette






  1                         House Resolution

  2         A resolution honoring Orange County Deputy

  3         Sheriff David Gross, Orlando Police Officer

  4         Edward Diaz, and fallen Orlando Police Officer

  5         George DeSalvia.

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  7         WHEREAS, the law enforcement officers of Florida

  8  bravely and selflessly risk their lives in order to protect

  9  the citizens they serve, performing their duties under all

10  conditions and facing unknown hazards and dangers in an

11  environment that seems increasingly hostile every day they go

12  to work, and

13         WHEREAS, on January 8, 2000, Orange County Deputy

14  Sheriff David Gross was shot and seriously wounded by a

15  suspect during a routine traffic stop in Orange County and,

16  showing remarkable restraint, allowed the suspect to flee the

17  scene rather than returning fire, for fear that an innocent

18  civilian might be injured, and

19         WHEREAS, on February 3, 2000, Orlando Police Officer

20  Edward Diaz was shot three times in the back, also during a

21  routine traffic stop, after which time he underwent intensive

22  spinal cord rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta,

23  Georgia, and now faces months of rehabilitation, and

24         WHEREAS, the City of Orlando lost first-year police

25  officer George S. DeSalvia when he was shot to death during

26  the same traffic stop in which Officer Diaz was wounded,

27  leaving his wife, Cynthia, and three young children, as well

28  as countless fellow officers, friends, and citizens, to cope

29  with the tragic and senseless loss of this beloved husband,

30  father, and comrade, and

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HR 9125

    534-227-00






  1         WHEREAS, the State of Florida has been well served by

  2  these brave men who selflessly offered themselves, Officer

  3  DeSalvia making the ultimate sacrifice, in order to protect

  4  and preserve the security and safety of its citizens, NOW,

  5  THEREFORE,

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  7  Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

  8  Florida:

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10         That the House of Representatives proudly and

11  thankfully commends Officer Diaz and Deputy Gross for their

12  bravery, their devotion to duty, and their dedication to the

13  citizens of the State of Florida and extends its most sincere

14  sympathy and appreciation to Cynthia DeSalvia for the pride

15  and dedication with which her husband, Officer George

16  DeSalvia, served his family, his agency, and all of Florida's

17  citizens.

18         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution

19  be presented to Orange County Deputy Sheriff David Gross,

20  Orlando Police Officer Edward Diaz, and Cynthia DeSalvia,

21  beloved wife of Orlando Police Officer George S. DeSalvia, as

22  a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein.

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