Remembering fallen officer: David Cormier – killed November 19th, 1989

This week, members of the Sheriff’s Office are remembering an officer who was killed in the line of duty November 19th, 1989.

David J. Cormier, 31 years old, was a reserve deputy for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office when he died November 19, 1989, from injuries he received when the patrol car he was riding in collided with a pick-up truck.

The collision occurred about 10:55 p.m., on U.S. Highway 1 on Plantation Key at Mile Marker 87.5. Deputy Joseph Ferraro and Reserve Deputy Cormier were responding to a back-up call from another deputy. Patrick Walter from Davie, Florida, had just left the parking lot of the Islamorada Inn in his 1973 Chevrolet pick-up truck when, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, he “failed to yield the right of way” to the patrol car, which had blue and red lights flashing.

Deputy Ferraro swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid the accident, but collided with the left side of the pick-up truck. Deputy Ferraro sustained head and neck injuries and was transported to Baptist Hospital and made a full recovery. Patrick Walter died at the scene of the accident and Reserve Deputy Cormier was stabilized at Mariners Hospital before being airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he died during surgery at 2:30 a.m. the following morning.

Reserve Deputy Cormier was the third deputy to be killed in the line of duty in Monroe County. Cormier was an official with TIB Bank of the Keys, participated in civic projects and volunteered at many community events. He was an active member of the Upper Keys Jaycees. He also volunteered to set up a computer system for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. Reserve Deputy David Cormier graduated from the Reserve Deputy Academy in June, 1989, and is survived by his parents, Curtis and Lilian; and his sister, Andrea.

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