Several off-duty officers and deputies from different law enforcement agencies across Southwest Florida are accepting donations for the family of fallen Sgt. Elio Diaz .
The Charlotte County deputy died in the line of duty on Dec. 15.
Cape Coral Police Officers, Charlotte County Deputies, Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Punta Gorda Police Officers all came together to help raise money.
Off-duty deputies and officers were spread out across Southwest Florida at five different grocery stores, including Walmart on Kings Highway in Charlotte County, Publix on Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral, Walmart on Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Publix on Cypress Parkway in Babcock Ranch and Publix on Tamiami Trail in Punta Gorda.
Sergeant Chuck Caruso with the CCPD helped plan the fundraiser.
"When something like this happens, especially to one of our own, we're used to being kind of people of action, but we're really helpless," Caruso said. "You kind of have to sit and take it, and that's hard, so this I think helps kind of take away some of that feeling of being helpless and allowing us to try and do something good and to partner with the community."
Caruso said law enforcement's help with the Diaz family doesn't stop here. He said they're now part of the Diaz family for good.
