Thank you guys for being so nice and keeping his family in your prayers. He was an amazing man.
By Diane Nichols
News Chief staff
WINTER HAVEN - Frank Storey, a dedicated Winter Haven Police Department motorcycle officer, died early Wednesday morning at Winter Haven Hospital as the result of a massive heart attack.
Storey, 49, had been with the Winter Haven Police Department since Aug. 1, 1994. One of four motorcycle officers with the department, he was described by police Capt. Vic Neal as an outstanding officer who had numerous awards.
"In 12 years, he's been nominated for Officer of the Year twice," Neal said Wednesday. "In 1993, he was the American Legion Auxiliary Officer of the Year, had seven commendations and nine letters of appreciation in his file. He was also given a Meritorious Service Award for defusing a potentially deadly situation when he talked a citizen out of suicide."
According to Neal, Storey experienced a bout of bronchitis and pneumonia last week. Around midnight Tuesday, the officer started complaining to his wife of chest pains, and she immediately took him to the hospital. After having an EKG, Storey was undergoing a cardiac catheterization when he suffered the heart attack.
In addition to his wife, Brenda, the property and evidence manager for the Winter Haven Police Department, Storey is survived by two grown daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.
"This is a huge loss," Neal said. "He was a loyal, public servant. If we needed a volunteer, he'd be the first to offer. Anyone who needed anything at all, Storey was right there. "He was a cop's cop. That's the only way to describe him. He will be greatly missed."