PANAMA CITY — A large black bell tolled with the release of nine balloons representing lives lost in the line of duty.
The names of nine local law enforcement officials with nine families, who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their community, were read aloud with the release of a balloon for each during a memorial ceremony Wednesday. One of them, Deputy Charles Scott, lost his life in the line of duty nearly a century ago.
“The families of those officers live on,” Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen said following the ceremony. “We want them to know the gratitude and respect we have for those officers will not fade.”
Though some officers are called on to give the ultimate sacrifice, many more make sacrifices daily to protect and serve. The sacrifice might be missing a child’s birthday, their first steps or a graduation, but each one of those were monumentally appreciated, McKeithen said.
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Each year the Bay County Sheriff’s Office holds its Memorial and Awards Ceremony to honor fallen officers, those still serving and their families who share in their sacrifice. In total about 50 sworn officers, volunteers and employees who work in law enforcement were honored Wednesday during the ceremony.
One of the most prestigious awards given each year is reserved for a deputy whose extraordinary actions places them in self-peril beyond the call of duty.
“It was a shock to me because the scope of my duty didn’t seem abnormal to me,” said Deputy David Hopkins, who received Medal of Valor during the ceremony. “My supervisors and the sheriff obviously thought differently.”
Hopkins said during Spring Break he didn’t see his family for more than a month, and he could relate to making daily sacrifices.
“It’s stressful on home life and it is difficult,” he said. “But I do have a great wife and kids who support me, and they understand the sacrifice I make being away from them to protect this community.”
Officers from several different law enforcement agencies were presented with awards for saving lives, exhibiting extraordinary initiative or preventing a serious crime from occurring were honored.
Former Bay County sheriff, County Commissioner Guy Tunnell was guest speaker for the ceremony. The awards handed out were a small token of appreciation to the families and officers from an indebted community, he said.
“They go to work early in the morning or on the midnight shift routinely without accolades or fanfare, but sometimes they don’t make it home,” Tunnel said. “To adequately memorialize those men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the liberties we all enjoy is impossible.”
Nine officers killed in line of duty
Deputy Charles Scott – 1917
Deputy Will Pledger – 1935
Constable Wayne Coram – 1951
PCPD Officer Jerry T. Wells – 1973
Sgt. Floyd Moore Jr. – 1986
Deputy Don C. Johnson –1999
PCBPD Kevin Kight – 2005
*Broward County Deputy Ryan Sequin – 2006
*Kirkwood, Missouri Police Sgt. William King Biggs Jr. – 2008
*from Bay County
Deputy of the Year
Deputy John Alger
Certificate of Commendation
Cpl. Roy Davila, Communication Supervisor Dana Hebner, Sgt. Stephen Jaencks, Investigator Antonio Jones, Sgt. Christopher King, Deputy Mario Lupica, Deputy Jacob McGowin, Sgt. Louie Wesley
Medal of Commendation
Sgt. Richard Bagwell, Lt. Koren Colbert, Deputy Robert Colbert, Deputy Richard Giggs, Cpt. Joel Heape, I.T. Jack Huges, Deputy David Kania, Cpl. John Pierce, Cpl. Doug Smith, I.T. Wayne Wilkes, Deputy James Williams
Medal of Lifesaving
Deputy David Allen, Sgt. Richard Bagwell, Deputy Michael Clancy, Deputy Jeffrey Duggins, Deputy Nick Hall – K9 Jaz, Deputy Raymond Maulbeck, Deputy David Polanka, Deputy Chad Rowswell, Deputy Leslie South, Deputy David Sullivan
Medal of Distinction
Sgt. Martin Duetsche, Deputy Christopher Seckel
Medal of Valor
Deputy David Hopkins
A list accompanying a story on page A1 Thursday headlined “In the line of duty” incorrectly reported the award of one recipient. Deputy John Alger received the