O’Brien’s Hosting Fundraiser For Sheriff’s Office Deputy With Bone Cancer

Brandon's home of the green will celebrate one of the men in green and white this weekend.

O'Brien's Irish Pub & Grill, 701 West Lumsden Rd., plans a fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 27 for Brandon area sheriff's deputy Justin Hancock.

Hancock was diagnosed with bone cancer in June and is undergoing treatment at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. The deputy had bought a small fixer-upper home two weeks before he was diagnosed, according to his friend, Deputy Jim Brodie.

“Now he is on disability, and he’s not expected back to work for a year,” said Brodie, who is organizing the benefit. “He has medical insurance, which is good, but his disability payments only go so far.

"He’s missing out on his salary and a little overtime. People think deputies make a lot and all the bills are covered, but that’s not the case. Everything we raise will go help him paying his bills while he’s going through this.”

Hancock hopes to make an appearance at the fundraiser, but that will all depend on how his weekly chemotherapy treatment goes. Doctors have replaced Hancock’s left elbow and upper arm bone with titanium implants, but he has another three months of chemotherapy to treat the cancer.

“Justin wants to make it, but it all depends on his treatment,” Brodie said.

A former minor league baseball player from the Greater Brandon area, Hancock was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels when he graduated from Florida Southern College. His father, Gary Hancock, played for the Angels and Boston Red Sox from 1979-84. Justin Hancock joined the sheriff’s office five years ago.

Hancock worked in the sheriff’s office District 4. The largest district in the county in size, Hancock helped cover the area south of Causeway Boulevard to Manatee County, west to Tampa and east to the Polk County line.

“He’s a very mild-mannered person who can talk to anyone,” said Brodie, Hancock’s partner at the sheriff’s office. “He’s still an avid sports fan and just a super guy to be around.”

Sgt. Susan Bradford, a supervisor in District 4, said the entire staff there has missed Hancock.

“He is a very hard-working deputy and very dedicated,” Bradford said. “He also has a great sense of humor. People really enjoy working with him. We are very family oriented here in District 4 so it feels like part of the family is gone now. We are looking forward to him coming back.”

Sean Rice, co-owner of O’Brien’s, said the bar was happy to host the fundraiser.

“We have a lot of deputies who come in, and we have a lot of friends who are police officers. This is a local guy, and we are more than happy to help.”

The fish fry special is $8 and is available as a table order or takeout meal. All proceeds from will go to Hancock.

To make a donation in support of Hancock, call Bradford at 813-247-0455.