'The thin blue line is strong': Fallen Volusia, Flagler officers honored at annual service

The memorial service is held each year during National Police Week.

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Five hundred fifty-six names were added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington during National Police Week on May 14-20, memorializing officers who died in recent years. The memorial bears 23,785 names, including 36 from Volusia and Flagler counties, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said at the 2023 Law Enforcement Memorial on Friday, May 19.

“The fallen heroes that we are remembering today made the ultimate sacrifice for their community, our cities, our county and our country,” Staly said. “They put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and uphold the law. They deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, and we will never forget their bravery and service.”

That’s what the memorial service is about, said Staly, who was the event’s guest speaker. Held at Daytona Memorial Park, the service honored the 36 officers, as well as two K-9s, who have died in both counties since 1895. Staly acknowledged the grieving families in attendance. 

In 2021, five officers in Volusia and Flagler counties died in the line of duty: Sgt. Justin White, of the Port Orange Police Department; Officer Adam Webb, of the Daytona Beach Police Department; Sgt. Dominic Guida, of the Bunnell Police Department; and Officer Jason Raynor, of the Daytona Beach Police Department. Raynor was shot while on patrol. There were no Flagler or Volusia law enforcement deaths in 2022 or so far in 2023.

Nationwide, 246 law enforcement officers died in 2022, and 42 have died in the line of duty this year, Staly said. The majority of their deaths were from gunfire, Staly added.

Hearts are heavy every day when remembering the fallen, he added, but grow more so as the trial for the suspect in Raynor’s shooting approaches. 

“But the thin blue line is strong, and we will be there for each other and the Raynor family, as together, we seek justice for our fallen heroes,” Staly said.

 

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