CLERMONT, Fla. — As the law enforcement community in Lake County says goodbye to one of its own, others in their community are stepping up to support them, and the families of the three deputies shot one week ago.

What You Need To Know

  • Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Link was killed while responding to a disturbance call in Eustis on Aug. 2. Deputies Harold Howell and Stefano Gargano were injured in the incident and continue to recovery from their injuries

  • Clermont Main Street has rallied its various businesses in downtown Clermont to raise money for those deputies’ families, and the organization is planning a big event to raise even more funds to help out

  • Bingo and Bourbon for the Blue is Saturday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roasted Spirit in Clermont

Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Link was killed while responding to a disturbance call in Eustis on Aug. 2. Deputies Harold Howell and Stefano Gargano were also injured in the incident and continue to recover from their injuries. 

Since Monday, Clermont Main Street has rallied its various businesses in downtown Clermont to raise money for those deputies’ families, and the organization is planning a big event to raise even more funds to help out.

Amanda Nethero started mobilizing support among business owners in downtown Clermont just days after the shooting happened.

“It’s very important for us to stand together as a community, and a lot of us have friends or family that are in law enforcement, so we felt it was important to do something to support the families,” said Nethero.

Nethero said business owners in Clermont are especially close to local law enforcement.

“We have events here all the time, and they’re the first ones that we see and the last ones that we see,” she said. “So they’re making sure we’re safe and that our businesses are safe.”

The risk deputies take hits home for Main Street board member Gigi Capria.

“Men, women, daughters, sons, uncles, aunts, brothers — they all put on a uniform every single day to make sure we have the right to drive to our jobs, to be with our family, and when one of them is affected we are all affected,” said Capria.

The businesses are joining forces to back the blue. They’ve already raised thousands of dollars in items that will be auctioned and raffled at an event on Aug. 17 — Bingo and Bourbon for the Blue. While people gather Saturday to remember a fallen deputy, they want those closely impacted to know there will be continued support, even in the weeks to come.

“We absolutely want them to know that we’re here in their corner, and we’re here to support them next week, the week after, years after, and we’re really hoping the funds raised can take some of the burden off then from the medical costs, the funeral costs and everything like that,” Nethero said. “So we’re really hoping it supports them.”

Bingo and Bourbon for the Blue will take place Saturday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roasted Spirit in Clermont.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Link will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Real Life Christian Church in Clermont.