TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Highway Patrol is mourning the loss of Trooper Michael Diego, who died on Wednesday, after suffering a medical emergency during training in Tallahassee.
FHP confirmed that Diego was participating in a competitive process for the agency’s criminal interdiction unit at the FHP Training Academy when the incident occurred.
Despite life-saving efforts, he passed away at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with his loved ones by his side. Diego’s journey to Southwest Florida included time on the East Coast before transferring to the Fort Myers district in April 2025.
“He was from New York, but he did much of his upbringing in the Port St. Lucie area. In fact, when he went to the patrol academy in Tallahassee, his first duty station was what we call Troop L on the east coast of Florida. And then in April of 2025, he decided he was looking for a change, and he came to the southwest coast,” said Lt. Greg Bueno of the Florida Highway Patrol. Lt.
Bueno said that even in less than a year of working in the area, specifically in Collier County, Diego built strong connections with his fellow troopers.
“Seeing the impact he had on so many lives is very moving. It speaks to the man he was and the family that raised him and it’s an honor to call him a peer and we are going to honor and respect his legacy,” said Bueno.
On Wednesday night, law enforcement escorted Diego back to Southwest Florida. First responders from multiple agencies lined State Road 82 between Interstate 75 and Gateway Boulevard as his procession passed through.
“They brought Diego home, and that was a 400-mile trip. His family was with us the entire way. When we got off the interstate onto State Road 82, you saw a sea of blue lights. The blue lights spoke volumes and were going to miss him and be there for the family and support them because our heart breaks for them,” said Bueno.
This is the information FHP has shared so far about what happened. WINK News will continue to bring updates as more details are released.