Funeral for Slain Indian River County Sheriff's Deputy Terry Sweeting Mashkow

Honoring Sergeant Terry Sweeting Mashkow

• 💔 More than 3,500 people gathered to honor the life and service of Sergeant Terry Sweeting Mashkow, an Indian River County Sheriff's Office deputy killed in the line of duty.
• 🏆 The turnout was the largest for a funeral in the county's history, with agencies from across the state attending.
• 🌟 Sergeant Mashkow was a 25-year veteran known for her deep ties to the community, where she spent much of her time training other deputies.

A Respected and Fair Officer

• 🤝 Sergeant Mashkow earned the respect of both the community and her agency through her encounters with the public.
• 📞 Many 911 callers specifically asked for her by name, recognizing her as "Deputy Sweetie."
• ⚖️ Described as street-savvy and fair, she was firm in her enforcement of the law but had a tender heart and a soft spot for the downtrodden.

Tragic Incident and Wider Impact

• 💥 Sergeant Mashkow, two other deputies, and a locksmith were serving an eviction notice when the suspect, Michael Alberstam, opened fire.
• 🕊️ Sergeant Mashkow and the suspect were killed in the exchange of gunfire; the locksmith later died from his injuries.
• 🤕 A second deputy was injured but survived, while an officer in Port St. Lucie was critically injured in a separate incident involving a neighbor dispute.
• 🙏 The outpouring of support has meant a great deal to the sheriff's team, though the loss has taken a toll on the community.