'Their legacies are eternal': Volusia, Flagler law enforcement agencies honor the fallen in annual service

The Volusia Flagler Law Enforcement Memorial Service was held at Daytona Memorial Park and honored 37 local officers and 2 K-9s who have died since 1895.

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On most days, law enforcement officers wear their badges with pride and dignity, said Ponce Inlet Mayor Lois Paritsky. But on Thursday, May 16, as officers gathered from agencies across Volusia and Flagler counties for their annual memorial service, she said their badges were covered with mourning ribbons for the fallen.

"They became heroes long before we lost them," she said. "They chose a life of public service and all that went with it. They live their lives as guardians and protectors of our families, our communities and our very way of life. As we assemble here today, let us remember that the measure of a life is not simply in years, but in how those years were lived."

The Volusia Flagler Law Enforcement Memorial Service was held at Daytona Memorial Park and honored 37 local officers and 2 K-9s who have died since 1895, with the most recent loss being Cpl. Michael Bakaysa, of the Ormond Beach Police Department. Bakaysa, 54, died in December 2023 after a medical incident following a training session.

OBPD also paid tribute to Officer Robert Grim, who died in 2004 after he was struck by a vehicle while investigating a crash. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office honored five of its fallen officers: Sheriff Perry Hall and Deputy Sheriff George Durrance, who both died in 1927; Deputy Sheriff Charles T. Sease, who died in 2003; Sgt. Francesco Luigi Celico, who died in 2011; and Deputy First Class Paul Luciano, who died in 2021.

These fallen officers, said Paritsky, the service's guest speaker, answered the call of duty and put their lives on the line every day. 

"They chose a noble profession that demanded unwavering bravery and commitment," she said. "They knew the risks, yet they embrace their work with resolve, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others. While their own lives may have ended for too soon, their legacies are eternal."

The community's support for law enforcement is recognizable, said Ponce Inlet Police Chief Jeff Glazier. The ceremony, he said, is for the families of the fallen officers.

"May we never forget their courage, their bravery and their commitment to being the peacemakers in our society," Glazier said. "May we never forget sacrifices that they've made and may their memories always be a blessing."

 

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