The Ocala Police Department is remembering an officer who tragically lost his life eight years ago while participating in firearms training at a local firing range.
On April 6, 2015, OPD Officer Jared Forsyth was at the Lowell Correctional Institution’s firing range on NW Gainesville Road in Ocala when a firearm was accidentally discharged. The bullet ricocheted off a bench and struck Forsyth in the chest, missing his bulletproof vest.
Forsyth was rushed to Ocala Regional Medical Center where he passed away from his injuries approximately two hours later. He was 33 years old.
Forsyth was born in 1981 in Smithville, Missouri. He moved to Lockport, New York in 1983, and he graduated from Lockport High School in 1999. He went on to receive his associate’s degree in criminal justice at Niagara County Community College, and he earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class.
After college graduation, Forsyth served as a correctional officer at the Orleans County Jail, and he provided security at multiple event venues. In 2010, he moved to Ocala and was accepted to the basic recruit school at the College of Central Florida in Ocala.
In 2012, Forsyth joined the Ocala Police Department, and he continued to serve the local community until his untimely death in 2015. OPD stated in a social media post that in addition to being a police officer, Forsyth loved camping, fishing, and spending time with individuals that he cherished most.
“Today, we remember Jared’s bravery and sacrifice to keep our community safe,” stated OPD. “He is greatly missed and his memory will continue to inspire and guide us.”