A new nonprofit foundation has been launched to honor the memory of the 47-year-old Indian River County sheriff’s deputy by offering mental health support to first responders, veterans, and their families.
The Heroes in Healing Fund was created in tribute to Sgt. Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, who was fatally shot on November 21, 2025, while serving an eviction notice in Vero Beach. The 25-year veteran of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) is remembered for her dedication to the community and for serving with courage and compassion.
The fund aims to ensure that law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, veterans, dispatchers, corrections officers, and their spouses and children do not face trauma, grief, or the aftermath of critical incidents without help. Services include immediate and ongoing mental health care, crisis intervention, counseling, peer support, and integrative wellness programs.
All assistance is delivered through partnerships with Emerald Medical, a Vero Beach-based clinic specializing in primary care and behavioral health, and the Take A Knee Foundation, which focuses on innovative therapies for veterans and first responders. Recipients gain access to licensed providers, trauma-informed care, and integrative support options, such as ketamine-assisted therapy for severe cases.
Many IRCSO and Indian River County Fire Rescue employees are in need of immediate mental health care following this horrific event, but they still have to pay for these services, so this healing fund will help our local first responders deal with this pain. The program is designed to provide confidential, no-cost services to those in need.
Donations to the Heroes in Healing Fund can be made through their website.
Sweeting-Mashkow’s death has sparked an outpouring of support, including memorial events and separate fundraising for her family. A public service is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 am. The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office invites everyone to view via the IRCSO Facebook page.
