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Deputy Sheriff

Michael J. Metroka

Broward County Sheriff's Office — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Felonious

End of Watch December 15, 1997

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 321 · Column 4 · Line 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Deputy Metroka was injured after being involved in a hit and run on November 29, 1997, and died of his injuries on December 15, 1997. Deputy Metroka and his canine partner were traveling westbound when another vehicle struck his patrol car near Copans Road and Northeast First Avenue. The suspect, a convicted felon, got out of his vehicle and approached the patrol car before fleeing the scene after removing a gun from his wrecked rental car. K9 Woedon, Deputy Metroka's partner, exited the vehicle and chased the suspect before returning to stay with him until rescue crews arrived. The suspect was captured a short time later and was charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, driving with a suspended license, and other charges. On March 27, 1998, the 26-year-old suspect was seen fleeing on a bicycle from Metro Bank at 4820 N. Federal Highway. He was later captured and charged with robbing the bank. Just six days earlier, he was released after posting bail in Deputy Metroka's case. A few days later, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a habitual felon. In March of 1999, he was convicted of leaving the scene of an accident involving a death and sentenced to 30 years. His release date is November 26, 2031. Deputy Metroka had served with the Broward County Sheriff's Office for 10 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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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 Metroka gave the Broward County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Lauderdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Metroka.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Broward County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, FL

Platform Identity browso.broward.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 15, 1997

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Michael was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded