WATCH: Satellite Beach Police Host Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Honor of Sgt. Ed Hartmann, Officer Phil Flagg

By  //  May 31, 2023

killed in line of duty by drunk driver during a traffic stop 31 years ago today

WATCH: Satellite Beach Police Department hosted the 31st Annual Hartmann-Flagg Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Satellite Beach City Hall. Sergeant Hartmann died at age 37 and had served in law enforcement for 14 years, 12 of which he spent employed with the Satellite Beach Police Department. Officer Flagg was 22 years old at the time of his death and had 14 months on the job.

BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA – The Satellite Beach Police Department remembered Sergeant E. Edward Hartmann and Officer Philip J. Flagg, who were killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver during a traffic stop 31 years ago today.

Satellite Beach Police, along with community members, hosted a wreath-laying ceremony in their honor at the Satellite Beach City Hall on May 26.

Sergeant Hartmann died at age 37 and had served in law enforcement for 14 years, 12 of which he spent employed with the Satellite Beach Police Department.

Officer Flagg was 22 years old at the time of his death and had 14 months on the job.

Above, the honor guard from the Brevard County Sheriff’s office remembered Sergeant E. Edward Hartmann and Officer Philip J. Flagg, who were killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver 31 years ago. (SBPD image)

Officer Flagg and Sergeant Ernest Hartmann were killed when they were both struck by a drunk driver while assisting another officer on the side of the road who had pulled over a car occupied by several teenagers.

Earlier, the 32-year-old driver was leaving a local restaurant when an off-duty officer stopped him as he tried to leave and got a sober friend to drive him home.

An hour later, he was back behind the wheel when the crash happened. His blood alcohol level was 0.22, and was convicted of two counts of manslaughter by driving while under the influence of alcohol and sentenced to 30 years. He was released in August 2011.

The Satellite Beach Police Department building was named in honor of Sergeant Hartmann and Officer Flagg on the tenth anniversary of their passing.

The Satellite Beach Police Department remembered Sergeant E. Edward Hartmann and Officer Philip J. Flagg, who were killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver 31 years ago. (SBPD image)
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