Sign The Guest Book For Nick Sottile

By MANDY SHEETS

Trooper’s Funeral | Raw Video | Photos

Sgt. Nicholas Sottile was remembered as “a Trooper’s Trooper,” a devoted husband and father, a great cook and a man of faith at his funeral today.

The 24-year-veteran of Florida Highway Patrol was shot Friday during a routine traffic stop just outside Lake Placid. He died that evening at Florida Hospital Lake Placid.

More than 2,500 people gathered at Restoration Church of the Highlands to honor Sottile, including about 2,000 law enforcement personnel from throughout the state and country.

Sgt. Wesley Daum, who worked with Sottile in Troop F – Arcadia, said the death of his colleague is a shock he is still trying to cope with.

“Friday, the world as we know it stopped and it’s almost like we are in a fog now,” Daum said. “We are going to get through with the help of the people here who know and love Nick.”

Gov. Charlie Crist thanked Sottile and all law enforcement officers for their service.

“Every day, Florida law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way and put their lives on the line for us,” Crist said. “On behalf of citizens in the state of Florida, I thank you for this and for making our lives more secure and safe … We are forever indebted to you.”