Community leaders across Sacramento continue to mourn the loss of Deputy Mark Stasyuk, who was killed in the line of duty on Monday.
Florin Ciuriuc is the director of the Slavic Community Center and a liaison to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department for the Slavic community. He also knew Deputy Stasyuk personally.
"As a community leader, I feel different," Ciuriuc says. "I feel that I lost one of my heroes."
Ciuriuc says Stasyuk was very proud of his heritage and he loved the Slavic community in Sacramento.
"And I was proud of him, too," Ciuriuc says. "For an immigrant to come to this country and do something you like, that's a win-win situation."
He adds that Deputy Stasyuk was always willing to go out of his way to help people and truly enjoyed his job as a sheriff's deputy. Stasyuk was 27-years-old when he was killed responding to a disturbance call at the Pep Boys auto supply store in Rancho Cordova on Monday.
The Sacramento County sheriff's department has set up a memorial fund for the family of Stasyuk. Officials say donations can be made at the CAHP Credit Union website or by check.
Click here to learn more or to make a donation.