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Incident
Deputy Rocky Lemus succumbed to hepatitis C, which he had contracted years earlier while on duty. He had been diagnosed with the late stages of the disease in 2004.
He had been exposed to people infected with the disease during drunk driving enforcement activities. In addition, he had been bitten by a man infected with the disease when he responded to a domestic violence call.
Deputy Lemus had served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office for 14 years.
Survivors
He is survived by is wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, sisters, nieces, and nephews.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Lemus gave the Orange County Sheriff's Office 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lemus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Orange County Sheriff's Office has lost 21 officers; 3 of them lost to illness.
Mariano is one of 81 officers lost to illness in FL, 8% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Mariano is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Mariano is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2005, 2 officers in FL were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 55.
In 2005, 6 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 26th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2005, 8 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 60th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Mariano was 52. Of the 79 lost to illness in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 53; the middle age was 48. Mariano had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 16.5 years.
Mariano was 52. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Mariano had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Mariano was 52. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Mariano had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
May holds 2.5% of these deaths in FL; August holds the most, 33.3%. Fridays: 13.6%.
May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
May holds 6.7% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 14.3% of all 21 deaths at Orange County Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 8% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was not available, in 0.2% of these deaths.
His people
Orange County Sheriff's Office has 21 officers remembered here, Mariano among them.
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David William L. Mizell
Feb 21, 1870
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Bobby L. Corley, Sr.
Aug 8, 1965
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Samuel Parker, Jr.
Jan 23, 1975
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Arnold William Wilkerson
Jan 10, 1984
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Frank Nelson Seton
Jan 4, 1989
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Thomas Allen Ingram
May 12, 1990
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Harry Jordan Dalton, Jr.
Mar 25, 1991
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John Joseph Creegan
May 29, 1996
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Grady Terrill Braddock
May 27, 1998
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John Harold Hollomon
Dec 15, 1998
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James Marcus Weaver
Nov 24, 2003
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Mariano Lemus, Jr.
May 6, 2005
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Michael Anthony Callin
Aug 2, 2006
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Mark Lindsey Parker
Mar 19, 2009
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Craig A. Heber
Jul 21, 2010
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Brandon Lee Coates
Dec 8, 2010
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Sebastian Edward Diana
Mar 12, 2011
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Michael K. Erickson
Mar 16, 2011
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Jonathan Scott Pine
Feb 11, 2014
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Norman Cecil Lewis
Jan 9, 2017
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Craig Seijos
Aug 5, 2021
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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