Written by Dillon Burroughs
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Florida Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link texted his wife Britney that he would be home a little late. Minutes later, he was ambushed and fatally shot with a high-powered rifle while entering a house where fellow deputies had responded to a disturbance.
Deputy Link returned suppressive fire until his weapon ran dry, allowing his fellow officers to escape, but he lost his own life after being fatally shot during the gunfire.
This act of bravery of an off-duty officer choosing to put himself in harm’s way for the sake of others now anchors a deeper story of sacrifice and the unseen strength that defines law enforcement.
On “Best in the Vest,” Michael Letts, founder and president of InVestUSA, visited the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to honor the legacy of Deputy Link and provided active shooter vests to deputies who continue the fight.
Letts, whose nonprofit has donated protective body armor to officers nationwide for over 32 years, reflected on the nature of service.
“They don’t do this job for the money or the recognition. They do it because they care,” Letts said. “Bradley Link didn’t have to respond that night—he was off duty. But he went anyway. That’s the kind of heart our law enforcement officers carry every day.”
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell gave an emotional response about the pain and perseverance his agency has endured.
“Brad was a cop’s cop. He had just joined our Marine unit, was full of life, and married to a beautiful woman. And then, it all ended on August 2. We’re still healing,” Grinnell shared.
Yet even amid loss, the community’s spirit remains unshaken. Sheriff Grinnell emphasized the support Lake County receives from Florida’s leadership and the local families, shop owners, and citizens his deputies serve.
“These officers live here. Their kids go to school here. Their parents shop here. They want to protect this place because it’s home,” Grinnell added.
Letts said that the vests being delivered were not just protective gear but tangible reminders that America stands with its first responders.
“Behind every badge is a story worth telling. And behind every story is a family, a neighborhood, and a country that benefits from their courage,” Letts stated.
The video ended with a clear message: our nation is built on the bravery of those willing to answer the call, even when they don’t have to. And while their stories may not always make headlines, their legacy lives on, one act of selfless service at a time.
Watch the full video here.
Michael Letts is the author of Truth, Lies and Control: Finding Hope in an Upside-Down World. Order your copy on Amazon today!
To learn more about Michael Letts, go to michaelletts.us, and to learn more about his nonprofit organization InVestUSA, which provides free vests to first responders, visit investusa.org.
Read the full history of InVestUSA with Michael Letts by clicking HERE.
