‘Bittersweet’: JSO tribute to fallen officers honors Lou Livatino

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For the first time ever, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office hosted its annual Tribute to Fallen Officers event at night Monday.

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“Amazing Grace,” a 21-gun salute and the sound of bagpipes set a somber tone as JSO honored the 64 officers killed in the line of duty.

The 64th name on the Fallen Officers Memorial downtown is Lou Livatino. The updated memorial was unveiled Monday during the tribute.

“Lou had the biggest heart,” Sheriff Mike Williams said.

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Several family members of fallen officers gathered outside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with speakers including Mayor Lenny Curry and Congressman John Rutherford.

“I’m just so touched by the outpouring of love and support from the community and JSO,” Sheryl Livatino, Lou’s wife, said. “Of course it was bittersweet. The tears came, but so did the smiles because of the warmth from everybody.”

Lou was a police auxiliary sergeant and volunteered with JSO for about a decade. He died from COVID-19 in January 2021, which he contracted while in the line of duty.

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According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, Florida had the second-highest number of line-of-duty deaths caused by the virus in 2020 and 2021.

The Officer Down Memorial Page has reported 92 deaths so far this year and 607 last year across the country.

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