In Lake County, remembering the fallen law enforcement officers

Lake County on Tuesday honored a number of local law officers who have died.

Among them was Israel Hughes, killed in the line of duty in 1925. He had worked for the sheriff's office for seven years when he was shot while he was investigating a report of a moonshine still in Altoona on April 1, 1925. He was taken to his residence, where he died that evening.

The sheriff’s Casualty Assistance Team researched the incident and worked to honor Hughes for his service and sacrifice. He is buried in the Ponceannah Cemetery in Paisley.

In addition, Hughes will be recognized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., during National Police Week. The Casualty Team members and the sheriff’s honor guard will accompany the family to the national memorial.

Tuesday's annual memorial service was held at the front of the historic courthouse in Tavares, at 9 a.m.

Hughes is not the only Lake sheriff’s deputy whose name appears on the national monument. Deputy Wayne Koester was ambushed, along with two others in 2005, while investigating a domestic violence call in the Ocala National Forest. Deputies Bill Crotty and Thomas McKane were wounded in the attack by Jason Wheeler.

Leesburg Police Chief James Lee Hux was killed by a moonshiner in 1924. His name is also on the national monument, and on a giant headstone at Lone Oak Cemetery in Leesburg, erected “by grateful citizens who mourn his loss but honor the splendid manhood and courage which prompted him to give his life in defense of their homes and of his duty as an officer of the law.”

— Daily Commercial correspondent Cindy Peterson contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: In Lake County, remembering the fallen law enforcement officers