By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
The term “hero” is often overused; rarely does someone embody the definition of the word “hero.” Not everyone was Lt. Lonny Hempstead.
On Tuesday, Aug. 10, the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office announced the in-line of duty illness and death of Lt. Hempstead.
Lt. Hempstead was born on May 7, 1966. Lt. Hampstead and his wife, Tammy Joe Hempstead of 32 years, made a life for themselves in Mayo along with their two children.
Lt. Hempstead was a devoted husband and father, but also a grandfather of two.
Lt. Hempstead was not only a member of the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office (LCSO), he was also a member of the United States Army National Guard for 22 years. In addition, Lt. Hempstead served in Iraq during Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, where he was awarded countless medals and accommodations.
Lt. Hempstead began his law enforcement career at the Department of Corrections, where he served for two and a half years before joining the LCSO. After that, he called LCSO home, where he remained for the next 24 years. Although Lt. Hempstead spent seven years as a K9 Officer during that time, in 2005 he was promoted to Lieutenant. He was also awarded the life-saving award.
Lt. Hempstead, however, was far more than a member of the U.S National Guard or a Lieutenant for the LCSO. He was known in the community as a jokester; he always had a smile on his face and never met a stranger. Hempstead served with a servant's heart, always putting everyone else first. Hampstead had developed a reputation throughout his community that felt protected and safe as long as he was around everything. Lt. Hempstead would probably deflect the praise of being labelled a hero, but those who grew up under his watch will forever refer to him as the hero he was.
"Lt. Hempstead gave honorable service to Lafayette County, the State of Florida and our country," Lafayette County Sheriff Brian Lamb said. "As great of a lawman as he was, Lt. Hempstead's legacy will be how great of a husband, son, father, grandfather, cousin and friend he was. This world would be a much better place if it were filled with people like Lt. Hampstead. Please continue to pray for his family and our office."