LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly 10 months after a deadly ambush claimed the life of a Lake County sheriff’s deputy and injured two others, a national nonprofit has honored the fallen and surviving officers for their bravery.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation presented its Stephen Siller “Hero to Hero” Award Thursday evening at the Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake, recognizing the sacrifice of Master Deputy Bradley Link and the courage of Deputies Harold Howell and Stefano Gargano.
“I want to tell everyone that Master Deputy Bradley Link died a hero,” said Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell during the ceremony. “And these two men right here are patriots.”
Grinnell accepted the award on behalf of the sheriff’s office, which includes more than 900 sworn and civilian personnel. “I would just like to say thank you on behalf of the professional men and women of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
Link was fatally shot on Aug. 2, 2024, while responding to a domestic dispute on Brookside Drive.
Deputies said Julie Sulpizio lured officers into the home where her husband and two adult daughters were waiting with a stockpile of firearms. Link was killed, and Deputies Howell and Gargano were shot and seriously injured.
Daniel Link, the deputy’s father, accepted the posthumous award on behalf of his son.
Tunnel to Towers, founded after the Sept. 11 attacks, honors fallen and injured first responders and veterans across the nation. John Manning, the organization’s Central Florida director and a retired New York City firefighter, said the event served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement.
“This incident happened 10 months ago,” Manning said. “We want to make sure we never forget.”
As of this week, both Howell and Gargano have not yet returned to patrol duty.