On October 3, 2022 Deputy Michael Hartwick was paid final honors for his lifetime of service. Hundreds of his fellow deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) as well as from neighboring agencies packed Idlewild Baptist Church to pay their respects. Deputy Hartwick’s friends and family came together to remember a man who was funny, kind, and a dedicated deputy.
Deputy Hartwick was killed the night of September 22nd when he was struck by a front loader while working a detail to protect the construction crews on I-275. The operator who struck him fled the scene and was caught after an extensive nine-hour manhunt.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said there was no way to make sense of such a senseless tragedy. “Mike died fighting the good fight, doing his job as cops do every single day across this country. Michael was one of the good guys, someone who fought the evil among us and saved others from harm’s way. And for that we are eternally grateful for Deputy Michael Hartwick.”
Deputy Hartwick’s death is the second line of duty death for the PCSO. In February 2021 Deputy Michael Magli was struck and killed by a drunk driver he was attempting to stop with stop sticks. “I stood here in this church 19 months ago and announced that we had experienced our first line of duty death in 109 years,” Sheriff Gualtieri said. He never imagined that another PCSO deputy would lose his life so soon.
Sergeant Michael Ferdon talked about Deputy Hartwick’s favorite part of law enforcement. “Mike was a traffic guy,” he said, adding that anyone who ever drove on McMullen Booth Road in the evening had likely seen him making traffic stops to deter speeders. His sergeant said that he didn’t care about giving tickets, but rather about making everybody’s commute safer. Deputy Hartwick was also a mentor to the newer members of the squad, sharing his wisdom. “Mike was a wealth of knowledge about not only the job but the trials of life,” his sergeant said. Deputy Hartwick also liked to talk with his sergeant about one of their favorite topics: retirement. Even though he loved his job, he was excited to build a place in Tennessee where he could ride his Indian motorcycle in the mountains.
His squad-mate Deputy Keith Amin talked about his sense of humor and friendliness, his big smile and loud laugh. “He had a great way of lightening the mood and set a positive example for the community he lived in.” Deputy Matthew Christie has known Deputy Hartwick for his entire career, ever since he started out at the Pinellas County Jail. When Deputy Hartwick went to patrol they spent time together on the Major Accident Investigation Team. “I’ll miss his laugh a lot, but I’ll also miss his work ethic,” Deputy Christie said. “He was 51 years old and he outworked most 20 year olds.”
Deputy Hartwick understood the need for compassion in law enforcement. Deputy Christie told a story of Deputy Hartwick volunteering to give a death notification – a part of the job so difficult that most deputies dread it. Deputy Hartwick, however, recognized that what is the most difficult is often the most important, and he wanted to make sure that a grieving family encountered a deputy who could be compassionate and consoling. Afterward, he talked with a new recruit about how to give death notifications, passing on his empathy to the next generation of deputies.
His fellow Mason Jeff Snyder said, “His smile lit the room. No matter if you knew him or didn’t, the minute you walked in and you saw Mike, you knew Mike. It was easy to know when he was near because from a block away you could hear that laugh, you could hear the jokes. He made everyone feel comfortable and feel welcome.”
Ted Grillo, a member of the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group with Deputy Hartwick, talked about his love of riding, and about the fun and challenging rides he would organize out West or in the Appalachians. He read comments from many members of the group, all praising Deputy Hartwick’s humor and skill. The consensus was that he was a joy to know, and a pleasure to ride with.
As friends, family, and fellow law enforcement officers gathered outside afterward, seven helicopters flew in a V formation over the crowd. As they neared, the second in formation veered away and flew into the distance, symbolizing our lost friend. A dispatcher called out Deputy Hartwick’s call sign, Sector 73 Charlie. When there was no response she announced his End of Watch and told the grieving crowd that Deputy Hartwick is now 10-7, the PCSO code for Out of Service.
Deputy Hartwick, a Navy veteran, will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery. He served his country and his county with honor and he will be missed and remembered forever.
To learn more about Deputy Hartwick, leave a note in his memory, or make a contribution to support the Hartwick family,
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