Son of fallen Seminole County Deputy Sheriff passes away

Seminole County, Fla - Seminole County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Eugene Gregory, Jr, son of fallen Seminole County Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory Sr, has passed away.

The department announced the following on their Facebook page:

"It is with heavy hearts that our SCSO family announces the passing of longtime Chaplain Eugene Gregory, Jr., better known to us as Gene. Gene, the son of fallen SCSO Deputy Sheriff Eugene Gregory, began serving as a chaplain with our agency after the tragic death of his father in 1998. Since then, Gene and the entire Gregory family have remained closely connected with our organization.

Recently, Gene served as the keynote speaker at the 2024 Seminole County Law Enforcement Memorial. He was the embodiment of "faith, family, and community," always steadfast in his convictions and offering support to countless SCSO members through both personal and professional challenges.

Gene’s loss will be felt deeply throughout the SCSO, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Gregory family during this difficult time."

Sheriff Dennis Lemma said in a provided statement:

"Gene has been a steadfast and compassionate presence withing our agency for over two decades. Gene began his service as a Chaplain with the SCSO following the tragic death of his father in the line of duty. From that moment on, Gene became an integral part of our SCSO family, offering guidance, comfort, and strength to countless members through both personal and professional challenges. His unwavering faith, commitment to family, and deep sense of community were the hallmarks of his service, and truly lived out the values that define our agency. His loss is felt profoundly by all who knew him, and our hearts are heavy as we mourn the passing of a truly inspiring man."

Gregory's father served as Seminole County Deputy Sheriff for seven years before being gunned down in 1998 during a 13-hour standoff.