Hundreds of law enforcement officers, family and friends turned out on Friday to pay their final respects to two of Orange County Sheriff’s finest who passed away in less than a week of each other.
Homicide Investigator Deputy First Class Michael Erickson died suddenly on Wednesday while at the YMCA Aquatic Center. It is believed that DFC Erickson suffered a heart attack.
At the visitation and funeral service at the First Baptist Church of Orlando on 3701 L.B. McLeod Road in Orlando, hundreds paid tribute to the DFC Erickson, with several colleagues noting that he loved his job as a homicide investigator.
DFC Erickson was a 13-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and leaves behind a wife and two sons. DFC Erickson will be interred out of state.
On Friday night too, hundreds came to file pass Deputy Sebastian Diana at the First Baptist Church of Central Florida located at 700 Good Homes Road. DFC Diana died one week ago on March 12. 2011.
DFC Diana passed away from an illness contracted five years ago, after performing CPR on a three-month old baby who died. He performed CPR again, this time using a mask, on a child whose life was saved, one year later. DFC Diana was awarded the Medal of Merit and earned a Community Service Ribbon.
DFC Diana joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 1999, having served six years in the U.S. Army prior to this.
“He was always active and productive, but never too busy to assist another squad member,” a statement from the Sheriff’s Office said. “His positive attitude and work ethic was contagious to those he worked with. Deputy Diana was an inspiration to all who knew him.”
DFC Diana will be laid to rest at the Glen Haven Memorial Park on 2300 Temple Drive in Winter Park, following funeral funeral services on Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Central Florida on Good Homes Road at 11:00 a.m.
DFC Diana is survived by his wife and four children.
