DAVIE, Fla. – Five years after his father was killed on the job, Sgt. Chris Reyka's son earned right to protect and serve.
On Wednesday night, Sean Reyka, 25, became one of the newest members of the Broward Sheriff's Office. His mother was there to pin the badge on her son's uniform.
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Reyka is the son of Sgt. Chris Reyka, who was shot and killed in Pompano Beach in 2007. He was pulling up on a suspected stolen car before the shooting. The gunman was never caught. Surveillance video of a white car near the scene was the only solid lead.
"To me it's like upholding the family name, the honor, the legacy he left behind," said Sean Reyka. " I'm going to do my best to kind of fill his shoes."
The younger Reyka said his mother was happy, but that she has expressed worry about him working in law enforcement in the past.
Before entering Broward College's Criminal Justice Institute, he served in the United States Marine Corps.
When asked about his father, Reyka said, "I'm sure he would be very proud."