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Son of Ohio deputy sheriff killed nearly 20 years ago joins his father’s police force

Theo

Nearly 20 years ago, a deputy sheriff was killed in the line of duty in Marion County, Ohio. This week, the deputy’s son joined the same police force his father served on as its newest member. At Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, no one was more speechless than Sarah Winfield. “You look so much like your dad now, you’re the spitting image,” she told her son, Landon. Landon’s father, Brandy Winfield, was shot and killed in the line of duty 20 years ago. WBNS reports he stopped to help a man whose car had broken down before he was gunned down by the man in his patrol car. At the time, Landon was just 3 years old. He remembers the response from police officers from across the state, many who came to his father’s funeral. Since then, he says, he’s dreamed of wearing the same uniform as his father. “I kind of saw this as my calling,” Landon told WBNS. “I want to carry on my family name, which is what I’m doing right now, and it’s one of the proudest moments of my life. I think he would be damn proud that I chose Marion County to start.” After becoming a widow and single mother of two boys at just 27, Sarah said she tried to convince her son to become a firefighter, but Landon would not be swayed. “He doesn’t want to do anything else,” she told the outlet. “And what do I say to a kid that’s his dream?” Landon insists he won’t always remember how his father died, but how he lived his life. “I think there’s no better place for Landon than with the people who loved his father and will look out for him,” Sarah said. Brandy Winfield’s killer is serving a 40-year to life sentence behind bars.

MARION COUNTY, Ohio —

Nearly 20 years ago, a deputy sheriff was killed in the line of duty in Marion County, Ohio. This week, the deputy’s son joined the same police force his father served on as its newest member.

At the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, no one was as speechless as Sarah Winfield.

“You look as much like your father now as he looked,” she said to her son Landon.

Landon’s father, Brandy Winfield, was shot and killed in the line of duty 20 years ago. WBNS reports he stopped to help a man whose car had broken down before he was gunned down by the man in his patrol car.

Landon was just three years old at the time. He remembers the reaction of police officers from across the state, many of whom came to his father’s funeral. Since then, he says, he has dreamed of wearing the same uniform as his father.

“I kind of saw this as my calling,” Landon told WBNS. “I want to carry on my family’s name, which is what I’m doing right now, and this is one of the proudest moments of my life. I think he would be damn proud that I chose Marion County as my home base.”

Sarah said she became a widow and single mother of two boys at just 27 and tried to convince her son to become a firefighter, but Landon would not be persuaded.

“He doesn’t want to do anything else,” she told the outlet. “And what do I say to a child that is his dream?”

Landon is convinced that he will not always remember how his father died, but how he lived his life.

“I don’t think there is a better place for Landon than with the people who loved his father and will take care of him,” Sarah said.

Brandy Winfield’s killer is serving a sentence of 40 years to life behind bars.

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