- April 9, 2025
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Deputies donning the newly optional western-style hats raise their hands for the pledge. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sheriff Rick Staly speaks to the crowd. Photo by Paige Wilson
Former Sheriff James L. Manfre accepts his centennial badge, given to him by current Sheriff Rick Staly. Photo by Paige Wilson
Chief Mark Strobridge speaks to the crowd. Photo by Paige Wilson
Bagpipers play before the ceremony. Photo by Paige Wilson
Former sheriff Daniel Bennett accepts a centennial badge from current sheriff, Rick Staly. Photo by Paige Wilson
After receiving his centennial badge, former Sheriff Donald W. Fleming speaks to the crowd. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ray Johnson, grandson of the first Flagler County Sheriff (Ernest W. Johnson), holds up a badge he brought to the ceremony in his grandfather's honor. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sheriff Rick Staly honors the first Flagler County Sheriff's Office African American deputy, Eugene Henry. Henry served in the 1970s. Photo by Paige Wilson
A crowd gathers for the 100 year celebration of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. Photo by Paige Wilson
Debra Meeker of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office holds an American flag during the ceremony. Photo by Paige Wilson
Deputies clap during the centennial celebration. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sheriff Staly speaks honors Flagler county commissioners Gregory Hansen, Charles Ericksen Jr., Donald O'Brien Jr., David Sullivan and chairman Nate McLaughlin. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler County Commissioner Chairman Nate McLaughlin speaks to the crowd. Photo by Paige Wilson
A retro squad car is parked outside the Sheriff's Operations Center. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sheriff Rick Staly and Chief Mark Strobridge speak to the crowd. Photo by Paige Wilson
Current Sheriff Rick Staly, left, stands with the three former sheriffs, Daniel Bennett, James Manfre and Donald Fleming. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sheriff Staly cuts the ceremonial police tape to open the Agency History Museum inside the Sheriff's Operations Center. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast resident Mike Pippio looks at the newly open Agency History Museum pieces. Photo by Paige Wilson
A crowd gathers inside the Sheriff's Operations Center to see the newly opened Agency History Museum. Photo by Paige Wilson
The walls of the Sheriff's Operations Center in Bunnell are now lined with photos of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office's history. Photo by Paige Wilson
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office rang in 100 years of service to the community with a ceremony on Monday, July 10 at the Sheriff Operations Center in Bunnell.
There have been 16 different sheriffs in the agency's history in Flagler County, beginning in 1917, with two being in the role twice. During the ceremony, family members of previous sheriffs were given centennial badges in their honor, and some of the more recent sheriffs accepted the badges themselves.
"The mission over the past 100 years has been to protect this community and keep our residents and visitors safe," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "Today we've laid the foundation for our next 100 years of service, for it is our honor to serve and our duty to protect."
To help celebrate the history of the Sheriff's Office, Flagler County deputies are now allowed to wear black boots and white, Western-style hats with their Sheriff’s Office uniform during this centennial year, said Staly. The wardrobe pieces were common in the early years of the agency, and if deputies so choose to wear the accessories now, they are to pay for them in full personally.
After the celebration, Staly led a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially unveil the Agency History Museum inside the halls of the Sheriff's Operations Center in Bunnell. Photos and plaques depicting the history of the Sheriff's Office are now on display on the walls in the center.
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