Two months after their deaths, a new mural in downtown Sanford honors two Central Florida officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

  • 'Paint the Trail' artist honors Lt. Debra Clayton, Deputy Norm Lewis
  • Jeff Sonksen painted portraits on display in downtown Sanford
  • Mural also includes 6 fallen Seminole Sheriff's deputies

The painted tribute to Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton and Orange County Deputy Norman Lewis went up at the Historic Sanford Welcome Center at the beginning of March.

The mural, by “Paint The Trail” artist Jeff Sonksen, also honors the six Seminole County Sheriff's deputies who have died in the line of duty over the course of the agency’s history.

Sonksen didn’t know Clayton or Lewis, but he said their deaths in January hit him hard.

“I just never thought I’d see a day where something like that happened,” Sonksen said. “It just seems like the country is losing respect for police officers, which is just so odd to me.”

So Sonksen cut some wood, picked up his brushes and started painting.

“I just don’t want to see us keep going in the direction we’re going, and I guess I wanted to make a statement: Respect the police and respect the brave,” Sonksen said.

Sonksen connected all of the paintings of the law enforcement officers with an American flag.

“They put their lives on the line everyday for people they don’t even know, and people should be thankful and grateful that we have men and women who are willing to do that kind of a job,” he said.

“I know I wouldn’t want to do it. I’m just a citizen with a paintbrush, and generally I paint happy stuff and feel-good stuff, and that’s kind of my thing.”

Sonksen is well known in Seminole County for his paintings of celebrities attached to fences along nature trails.

“I want people to look at what I’ve painted and feel better, or somehow be motivated or feel uplifted,” Sonksen said.

With these paintings, he wants people to show respect.

“I can’t imagine living in a world where there weren’t police officers. We need them just like we need firemen and doctors and everyone else.”

Sonksen said the response has been overwhelming.

“There’s been quite a few police officers that have messaged me, and come out here and wanted to get a picture of it, and they wanted to see it in person,” he said.

The paintings are expected to remain on display at the Historic Sanford Welcome Center in downtown Sanford until the end of April. Sonksen says the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will get the paintings for their fallen deputies. He hasn't decided yet where the paintings of Clayton and Lewis will be placed permanently.