A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office recruit who died after physical training at the police academy was laid to rest Thursday.
Tony Cephas was a military veteran and father of two.
PHOTOS: JSO recruit who died after physical training gets full honors during funeral
He died March 28 at 43 years old.
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Cephas never got to wear the JSO badge, but that didn’t stop the agency he was training to join from granting him full honors.
His funeral procession included a sea of squad cars with their lights flashing.
Officers on motorcycles escorted his hearse to the gravesite.
With his mother's permission, Action News Jax spoke to Cephas' 15-year-old son, Isaiah, the day after his father's death.
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“I know he lived an amazing life. He helped so many people. He changed hearts of so many people, as well. So, I guess that’s what getting me through right now, because he was an amazing person,” said Isaiah on March 29. “He told me from a younger age, he wanted me to – if anything ever happened to him, he wanted me to be the man of the house and to take control. And I’m trying the best I can right now without falling apart. I’m trying to be here for them right now.”
A JSO spokesperson said Cephas and other recruits at the Criminal Justice Center on Florida State College of Jacksonville’s North Campus were taking a water break after 15 minutes of exercise when an instructor noticed Cephas wasn’t feeling well.
“I guess they told him to sit down and everything. And I guess after that he was unconscious. They’re still trying to figure out why. So, they performed CPR. It didn’t work. So, they ran him to the hospital,” said Isaiah.
If you want to help the Cephas family, you can find more information here.
Cox Media Group
