Florida Sheriffs Association Honors Fallen Officers
For Immediate Release
Florida Sheriffs Association Honors Fallen Officers
May 7, 2012, [Tallahassee, FL] – Today, the Florida Sheriffs Association honored all 340 of the officers whose names are etched on the FSA Memorial Wall. These officers made the ultimate sacrifice for Floridians and their communities. Law enforcement officers go to work everyday and put their lives on the line to protect our rights and freedoms. The month of May is dedicated to remembering all those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Attorney General Pam Bondi joined FSA Executive Director Steve Casey, FSA President Sheriff Ben Johnson and many sheriffs from across the state at the FSA Memorial Wall to pay tribute to the men and women who died while serving their communities.
“We were honored to have Attorney General Pam Bondi as our keynote speaker today as she and her staff have been instrumental in supporting law enforcement,” said Executive Director Steve Casey. “We are grateful for the opportunity to pay our respects to these fallen officers and their families.”
The hundreds in attendance paid a special tribute to the two sheriff’s deputies who lost their lives in 2012, Deputy David White and Deputy Barbara Pill, with a moment of silence as a rider-less horse was led across the Memorial.
Family members and sheriffs from counties of those who died in 2011 were also recognized. Those honored were:
• Roger Castillo, Miami-Dade County
• Amanda Haworth, Miami-Dade County
• Sebastian E. Diana, Orange County
• John C. Mecklenburg, Hernando County
• Matt Miller, Seminole County
The FSA Memorial Wall provided a wonderful background for today’s ceremony as it represents the dedication of Florida’s Sheriffs' Offices. The wall, established in 2002, was created to honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each day that our sheriffs and deputies dedicate themselves to protecting Floridians is a day for us to remember those who have passed. Find more information on the FSA website memorial page: [url=http://www.flsheriffs.org/about_us/fsa-memorial/]http://www.flsheriffs.org/about_us/fsa-memorial/[/url]
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The Florida Sheriffs Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation made up of Florida’s sheriffs, approximately 3,500 business leaders and 70,000 citizens throughout the state. Founded in 1893, FSA has quietly served the citizens of Florida by supporting the needs of the state's law-enforcement community. Through the Florida Sheriffs Association, sheriffs are given a forum to address lawmakers to push for positive changes in Florida’s public safety arena. FSA also provides Sheriffs' Offices much-needed programs such as affordable training, special task forces and legislative and legal services. Dedicated to the prevention of juvenile delinquency and the development of lawful, productive citizens, FSA both established and continues to fund the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches with facilities throughout the state to help restore hope, fulfill dreams, and prepare boys and girls for the future. The Florida Sheriffs Association has grown to be one of the largest and most successful state law enforcement associations in the nation. For more information on the Florida Sheriffs Association, visit [url=http://www.flsheriffs.org]http://www.flsheriffs.org[/url].
