PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A fallen law enforcement memorial was held at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. The annual ceremony has been held for 31 years. This was the first year the Sheriff’s Office was honoring one of its deputies.

Deputy Michael Magli’s name is now etched into the memorial wall outside the Sheriff’s Office. On February 17, a drunk driver fleeing deputies hit and killed Magli. 

His wife, Stephanie Magli, spoke during the ceremony.

“All I can do is hope and pray that Michael’s name will be the last one on this wall for this agency, for this county,” said Stephanie.

She says her husband was a hero long before he gave the ultimate sacrifice.

“Michael was a hero to our family long before any of this. He taught our daughter Maddie how to ride a bike, he did her hair for school in the morning, helped her pick out clothes, pack lunch. He was Daddy. And every Daddy is a hero. The community now sees him as a hero as well,” said Stephanie.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri spoke during the ceremony, honoring Magli and every officer who died in the line of duty in the county protecting others. “Everyone whose name is on this memorial next to me, gave it all because they wanted to make a difference. They signed up for this calling, for the greater good of our community. And to be that line between good and bad,” said Sheriff Gualtieri. 

The name above Magli’s is Charles Kondek, Jr. He was a Tarpon Springs Police Officer who was killed in 2014.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has a memorial fund set up for Magli’s family. If you’d like to donate, click here.