Broward County is reeling after the on-duty death of Broward Sheriff's Office Firefighter/Paramedic Steven Lepselter, who died April 5 following a medical emergency while at work. A 19-year veteran of the department who served across BSO Fire Rescue units, Lepselter's sudden loss has hit the agency and the communities he served especially hard. The sheriff's office announced his death on its official social account late Sunday evening.
With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of BSO Firefighter/Paramedic Steven Lepselter, who died April 5, 2026, after a medical emergency on duty.
— Broward Sheriff (@bsoSheriffTony) April 5, 2026
BSO's announcement
In a brief post, Sheriff Gregory Tony wrote that Lepselter "died April 5, 2026, after a medical emergency on duty," according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. The department did not release further details in that statement, including the specific location of the incident or an official cause beyond the description of a medical emergency.
Department records and recognition
Department materials and formal awards listings identify Lepselter as a Broward Sheriff's Office Firefighter/Paramedic, reflecting his long tenure with the agency, per the Broward Sheriff's Office. In that document, he appears among fire-rescue personnel recently honored by the department in its awards program.
Medical emergencies remain a top risk
Medical emergencies, including cardiac events and overexertion, remain the leading cause of on-duty firefighter deaths nationwide, according to the National Fire Protection Association's 2024 report. The study found that heart attacks and overexertion accounted for a large share of firefighter fatalities in recent years, underscoring ongoing occupational health risks for departments and their crews, per NFPA.
The sheriff's office has not yet released information about memorial plans or a timeline for next steps in the case. Those announcements typically follow family notifications and established department protocols in line-of-duty deaths. This story will be updated as the department provides additional details.
