Deputy Todd Fatta

Deputy Todd Fatta, a 9-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, was fatally shot on the morning of August 19, 2004 as he and fellow members of the LEACH (Law Enforcement Against Child Harm) Task Force attempted to serve a warrant in a child pornography case in Fort Lauderdale.

Tomorrow, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti and Dep. Fatta’s parents will attend a ceremony planned by Kaplan College to honor Fatta’s courage, determination and sacrifice. The college is dedicating its new XVT Firearms Training Simulator in Fatta’s memory.

The training simulator will provide students with real-world scenarios requiring judgment calls and rapid situational assessments. A plaque in honor of Dep. Fatta will be displayed at the college and another one will be presented to Joseph and Josephine Fatta at Tuesday’s ceremony.

“It is hard to believe this August will mark the 7th anniversary of Todd’s unnecessary and tragic death. I congratulate the Kaplan College administration for honoring his sacrifice in such a way,” Sheriff Lamberti said.

Deputy Fatta, 33, joined BSO in September 1995, worked as a road patrol deputy in the Tamarac district office, and later transferred to the Regional Narcotics Unit and then the Street Narcotics Unit in the agency’s Strategic Investigations Division. A native of West Seneca, New York, he served a 3-year tour of duty with the United States Air Force as a military police officer based in New Mexico and received several commendations including an Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Air Force Training Ribbon. He left the service in 1994 but remained in the reserves until 1999.