EUSTIS, Fla. — To honor one of their own, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and community came together on Saturday in Eustis to celebrate the life of Dennis Bootle.

The decorated military veteran and former NYPD Detective Sergeant passed away in November after a medical emergency off-duty.

What You Need To Know

  • Dennis Bootle passed away after a medical emergency in November

  • Family and loved ones of Dennis Bootle came together in Eustis to celebrate his life and accomplishments

  • Bootle is a Vietnam veteran and served as an NYPD Sergeant Detective for 34 years

  • After a short retirement, Bootle joined the Lake County Sheriff's Office

“Dennis was a true hero, he was a mentor, and he was an unbelievable instructor,” said Bootle’s best friend, Thomas Hurlburt

Those are just a few of the words people used to describe Dennis Bootle, but his resume speaks for itself.

He earned a bronze star and two purple heart medals for his service in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.

Bootle is also a Grandmaster in karate and spent a lifetime of service in law enforcement, including 34 years with NYPD for the City and Transit Police Departments.

This also included months of work at ground zero of the World Trade Center.

“He was helping people evacuate when the second building fell, and Dennis didn’t get out of the way fast enough and he got blown into the atrium and he was passed out or knocked out for about six hours he thinks,” shared Bootle’s significant other Mary Abraham.

Bootle would survive, work the front lines for months and go on to finish his career in New York at the DA’s office.

Then in 2008, he would meet Mary.

“And the first time I met him I knew, I told my daughter I was going to marry him,” Abraham explained.

Mary says they met online and did long distance for two years until Dennis moved to be with her in Central Florida as a retired NYPD legend, but it didn’t last long.

One month later, he was back at work, this time for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

“They welcomed him with open arms and they were so generous and accommodating and you know I couldn’t have been happier,” said Abraham.

The move also brought him closer to his best friend, Thomas Hurlburt.

“I’m just going to miss him and just miss his company,” Hurlburt said. “Just his conversation and I’m just going to miss his council because he had great council. And I probably counseled him a little bit too.”

To honor his life, those that knew Dennis best gathered to celebrate him because they say that’s what he wanted.

While most might remember him for his law enforcement titles, the ones that meant the most to him were dad and “pop pop.”

It’s something his family says they will always cherish.

“He loved his family, absolutely adored his family. He loved his country, he served all of his life, and he loved me,” Abraham said.

The celebration of life continues for Dennis Bootle in New York as he’s set to have another service on Jan. 25.

Dennis Bootle’s obituary can be found at Harden-Pauli Funeral Home’s website.