POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – The Broward Sheriff’s Office gathered Wednesday to honor the legacy and service of Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, who died in a helicopter crash exactly one year ago in Pompano Beach.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony and members of the department commemorated Jackson’s life at a ceremony at the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Air Rescue 85 station in Pompano Beach.
Jackson, 50, and two other Broward Sheriff’s Office employees were responding to a call on Aug. 28, 2023, when their EC 135 helicopter crashed into an apartment building in Pompano Beach, killing Jackson and Lurean Wheaton, 65, who was inside the building at the time.
Jackson’s family was also in attendance for the special ceremony.
Tony spoke about the need for ongoing changes to ensure the safety of both his staff and the community during the ceremony.
“Since that time, the organization continues to focus on healing, unifying the organization and maintaining focus on serving this community,“ he said.
The sheriff’s deputies union also sent a letter to Broward County commissioners this week, requesting more funding for equipment and support to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
“What is the message for us here? Is this simply a commemoration of remembrance for Terryson Jackson, or do we have an obligation to remember all associated with this tragedy?” Tony asked. “The fact that we have advocated for years to enhance the aviation program and for new helicopters to be purchased is so that we don’t risk the lives of the people we’re supposed to serve.”
“I will not stand by as the sheriff of this county and have another helicopter fall from the sky,” Tony added. “I challenge the Broward County community to continue to honor Terryson by fighting for public safety.”
Tony also previously told the Broward County Commission the rescue chopper that killed two people and left four others injured, was on its last legs and needed to be replaced.
“(The) Fire rescue helicopter that we’re utilizing has been around since 1999. We’ve been piecemealing parts for years to maintain the flight capabilities,” Tony told Local 10 News just days after the fatal crash. “Because of the volume that we are now handling, our aircraft are in the air for almost 1,000 hours. So, we’re almost doubling the flight time on these aircrafts before we can maintenance them.”
Tony backed those statements Wednesday by challenging the Broward County Commission to start “funding the department appropriately to avoid any further safety issues from happening.”
“We must have the tools that are essential for our success,” added Tony. “We have to get beyond the politics of the day and have support from our county colleagues who are responsible for funding us.”
Click here to read more about Jackson’s life and accomplishments.
Local 10 viewers can watch the special ceremony on the link below.
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