pete huffman was most recently with the gulfport fire instructor at st. pete college. we first told you about huffman in may of 2015. when he retired from the fire service. now after his death from cancer his family is determined to keep his memory alive. abc action news reporter kera mashek shows us the fight he was so passionate about, a measure to protect its first responders and it's one florida does not have. >> reporter: pete huffman's home is covered with a lifetime as a firefighter. we met him last year as he prepared to retire. >> it's been my passion. it's everything i've known. >> reporter: his wife marcy got used to years of him running out on late night calls and understood the risk his job carried. >> there is always a chance he could get hurt on the job whether it's a burke building or even -- a burning building or even a traffic accident. things go wrong all the time. >> reporter: but it was an unexpected effect of all the have caused pete huffman his life. he was diagnosed with cancer. his doctors convinced decades of exposure to toxic chemicals in the

this is a tragic sto >> reporter: it is, hundreds will gather to honor pete huffman later today. a funeral procession will conclude where i'm standing at the calvary catholic cemetery. as i mentioned it's a tragic story and has taken a tremendous toll on the huffman family. cancer forced him into early retirement after he spent the last 17 months in treatment. doctors convinced his long career fighting fires, exposure to toxic chemicals contributed to his diagnosis but as to cover his chemo treatments, that cost $18,000 every time he went in. before he died huffman pressed for florida to pass a cancer presumption law making sure that firefighters are guaranteed benefits if they get cancer. his family knows even if the law is passed tomorrow it won't help them but still want to see it passed. >> i would be very proud. our son is a firefighter and yes, it's too protect him, protect the firefighters that are working now, protect the ones that are coming in. >> i think just to have a little something in order to protect them and their names as well is truly beneficial. >> reporter: no

pete huffman died of cancer fire department 10 months before his retirement date. he thought his years on the job contributed to his health issues. several other states added benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer but florida has not. his funeral is 10:00 this morning, there will be a procession afterwards. >>> friends, family and complete strangers will gadge they are afternoon to mourn a librarian killed during a police training exercise. 73-year-old mary knowlton follow veered to take tactical exercise in punta gorda. police say the officer accidentally shot and killed her. the shooting is under investigation. her husband gary also took part in the exercise. >> we tried to save her life, i was just in shock. didn't know what to do. >> officer cole is on leave during the investigation. we're learning he was forced to resign from the miramar police

. >> pete huffman was a 35-year veteran of the fire service and his family hopes his death paves the way for firefighters to be better taken care of in the future. anchor james tully is live in clearwater, the huffman family really making sure he leaves a lasting legacy. >> reporter: they certainly are. behind me here in pinellas park the performing arts center the funeral is about to take place you can see it's pretty clear a lot of his comrades from the fire service, pete huffman spent 35 years there. it says a lot about his family as they push for legislation that would guarantee benefits for firefighters that fall ill. at this point it probably wouldn't give them the help they so desperately need. doctors are convinced a long career of fighting fires, and exposure to toxic chemicals contributed to pete huffman's diagnosis. he was forced into retirement on chemo that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. he wants firefighters to make sure they are benefited if they get cancer. >> i would be very proud. our son is a firefighter. and yes, it's too late for us, but protect him, pro

pete huffman's wife marcy who hopes her husband's death paves the way for firefighters and their families to receive better benefits. huffman was forced to use his pension to cover medical costs, chemotherapy he took twice a month costs $18,000 a treatment. >> so, of course we took retirement money to pay medical costs. so it's just -- now there's no retirement money left are coming in. so they need to have a plan. >> reporter: a possible plan huffman and his family supported the fight, the fight florida is in to get what is called a cancer presumtion law in the books to guarantee benefits to firefighters if they get cancer. the family is establishing a scholarship in his name at st. achieve their dreams. live in clearwater, james tully, abc action news. >> thank you. >>> we have new information after a georgia murder suspect is arrested in north florida for killing a police officer. we have learned that slain officer was not wearing body armor when he was shot. 24-year-old royhim deeds is accused of murdering that police officer tim smith saturday. authorities say deeds was found hiding

pete huffman died thursday. they passed by the house where they were followed by hundreds of firefighters, family and friends. he worked in the fire service 35 years before being forced into retirement for his -- from his cancer diagnosis. doctors believe that the disease was a direct result of years of being exposed to all of the toxic chemical. he fought for legislation to get better cancer protections for firefighters. >> we need to fix the system. we need to everybody, civilians alike, because we need to come together as a country. and if i can help a little part in that, that's where my calling is. >> lieutenant pete huffman's family plans to carry on his fight for new laws. they are creating a scholarship at st. pete college to help firefighters fulfill their dreams. >>> take a close look at your deputies are looking for the man in the baggy pants. he robbed the bank in the middle of the day. he worked into the credit union and told the teller he had a gun. he man got away in a toyota sedan, silver, with t

pete huffman was in the fire department for 35 years. with cancer. his doctors believe the illness was linked to decades of exposure to toxic chemicals in the line of duty. huffman's family learned the financial hardships of his diagnosis especially since florida is one of just a few states without a firefighter cancer presumption law to help cover his treatments. >> my brother was a hero. the firefighters are heroes everyday. they lay their lives on the line to protect life and property and they serve the community in a way that is unparalleled. and it is shameful that we don't have this protection in place for them. >> huffman's family is now committed to doing whatever they can in hopes of getting better cancer protection laws in place in florida. for current and future first responders. including pete's son who is a firefighter. >>> people are calling a hillsborough county detention deputy a hero for good reason. what he did while off the clock. deputy habib hanze was at indian rocks beach with his wife and three children on saturday. he's holdin

. >> we have followed pete huffman's life for more than a year as he's attempted to change some florida state laws. florida is one of only 14 states that doesn't give firefighters medical benefits if they can't cancer an exposure to toxic chemicals on the job. huffman spent 35 years fighting fires. his funeral begins 10:00 at the pinellas park performing arts center. it will be followed by a procession to calvary catholic cemetery around 11:30. protests the situation much calmer overnight in milwaukee. the city implemented a 10:00 curfew for anyone under age 17. the wisconsin governor scott walker also ordered more than 100 national guard members on standby in case more violence broke out. the milwaukee police chief says officers made six arrests last night, there were some heated confrontations but no property damage. the violence began saturday after a black police officer shot and killed an armed black man who was fleeing from a traffic stop. >>> there will be a ribbon- cutting today for the new high school. it's set for 4:30 this afternoon. the school underwent a 65 million dollar r

pete huffman served 35 years in the fire service. fire department. and an instructor at st. pete college of he died thursday. huffman's family learned the financial hardship of his diagnosis especially since florida is one of just a few states without a firefighter cancer preassumption law to help pay and cover treatments. they are now pushing for this law for current and future first responders including pete's son who is a firefighter. >>> good morning, we are watching your roads. this is what it looks like on the howard frankland, looks great back pinellas and hillsborough. your drive about six minutes, coming up we're going to check drive times on the veterans expressway. >>> coming up at 6:30 -- full steam ahead, approval for a new natural gas project and the way it's expected to bring a boost to the bay area. >> the zeke transmission zone >>> team coverage as two more counties head back to school this monday morning. >> our crews in pasco county and polk county standing by with two big changes to report. >> our live camera checking to see if buses may be causing delays.

pete huffman served 35 years in the fire service. most recently with the gulfport fire department and as an instructor at st. pete college. he died thursday after battling cancer. his doctors believe the illness was linked to decades of exposure to toxic chemicals in the line of duty. huffman's family learned the financial hardships of his diagnosis especially since florida is one of just a few states without a firefighter help cover his treatments. preassumption. >> my brother was a hero. the firefighters are heroes everyday. they lay their lives on the line to protect life and property and they serve the community in a way that is unparalleled. and it is shameful that we don't have this protection in place for them. >> his family is now committed to doing whatever they can in hopes of getting better laws in place for current and future first responders. including pete's son who is a tomorrow at calvary catholic cemetery in clearwater. >>> people are calling a hillsborough county detention deputy a hero for what he did off the clock.

. >> the charitable organization is taking in donations for the for pete huffman. >> reporter: inside the fire service is a brotherhood. and that deep bond is never more clear than when a brother is lost. pete uhffman dedicated his life to being a firefighter over three decades with several departments in pinellas county. >> and respect. a lot of people aren't able to do that and he was. >> reporter: so it's no surprise that more than 500 firefighters came to pay respects during lieutenant huffman's funeral. within this brotherhood, there's an even closer knit family. it's known as the honor guard. they do things they never learned in fire school like planning memorial services and lending emotional support to families in their hour of need. the country. >> realistically, this is not part of their job descriptions, this is something that they volunteer to do. so it's a way, not only in being a firefighter, being able to serve, it's being able to serve your brothers and sisters. >> reporter: as part of that service, the honor guard will even stand watch 24 hours a day with a fallen fir

friends d stis right now arsayiarel lost his battle with of fire trucks made memory of pete colleagues stood huffman fought for cancer for firefighters. but florida is not one of them. well fox 13 is proud sponsor of american cancer society making strides against breast cancer events. and over the next few days, we will bringing you stories leading up to their annual kick off. i'm introducing you to cancer survivor battling once again although this time is fight taking greater toll on her mind and bode she spends spare time putting cancer care packages together for strangers all because american did the very same thing for her. >> i got my benadryl. susan tries to make light of yet another long chemotherapy session. but the truth is, it's rough. it's very rough. you spend several hours sitting in a chair while they infuse you with chemicals. day one to day 3 is no the too bad. day 3 to day 10, you feel like >> if you still have any doubt, how difficult and draining cancer treatment can be, just look in susan's eyes. i've also done two rounds of radiation. listen to the shake in her voice. it's massa

pete fought for that. >> for his memory and marci and all the firefighters, we need to do that. >> including his son who followed in his footsteps. >> in pinellas county fox 13 news. >> the huffman's family plan to continue the fight for benefits for firefighters. senator jack has sponsored that bill the past few years and last near made it through commitise but still did respruns it and experience it again. >> reporter: hundreding rrm the city year old woman killed when an officer fired a loaded gun at her during a training exercise. witnesses of the shooting attended. family members spoke about the role faith and forgiveness had in her life. they are investigating yet officer had a loaded weapon during that drill. >> reporter: pinellas county music teacher hit by a drunk caroline and her boyfriend sean were driving home from the movies early sunday morning when it happened. bryce was drunk when he sped through a red light. t-boned the couple. today he was charged with dui manslaughter bond at 150 thousand dollars. the victim's advocate for mothers against drunk driving said the crash traumatized an tire community. >> can you imagine how many people this traumatized. she was a mu