- April 20, 2024
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Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly escorts the family of Detention Deputy First Class Paul Luciano for honors at the Florida Sheriffs Association Memorial April 25. Courtesy photo
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly escorts the family of Sergeant Francesco Celico for honors at the Florida Sheriffs Association Memorial April 25. Courtesy photo
The FCSO Honor Guard honoring our fallen heroes at the Florida Fraternal Order of Police 40th Annual Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Service April 26. Courtesy photo
also by: Melissa Morreale
Sheriff Rick Staly escorted families of two Flagler County Sheriff’s Office fallen heroes, Detention Deputy First Class Paul Luciano and Sgt. Francesco Celico to Tallahassee Monday, April 25, for special statewide law enforcement honors.
The Florida Fraternal Order of Police and the Florida Sheriffs Association held fallen officer ceremonies at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on the campus of Florida State University and the Florida Sheriffs Association Headquarters in the state Capitol, respectively.
At the 40th-annual Florida FOP Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Service on Monday morning, Luciano and Celico were among the 85 names added to their memorial wall. They were then among the 30 names added to the FSA Memorial Wall during a Monday afternoon ceremony.
Additionally, there was a rider-less horse, Taps performance, rifle salute and fly-over tribute to close out the morning.
Cmdr. Kenny Goncalves sang the national anthem at the FSA ceremony. The FCSO Motor Unit also attended to help escort and honor the families during their stay in Tallahassee.
Both of these memorials honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service to their communities. Luciano was working in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility when he received his COVID-19 diagnosis. He died Aug. 26, 2021. Celico died Sept. 9, 2011, after having a heart attack following a high-stress work incident.
“I am honored to have been part of memorializing two of our own among Florida’s fallen heroes,” Staly said. “These deputies have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe and their memory and service will forever be honored by the Florida FOP and the Florida Sheriff’s Association. To those who’ve lost their lives in the line of duty, thank you for your service. Your memory will live on forever. To the families of fallen heroes, we will always honor your hero and the sacrifice you have also made.”
The FSA established the granite Memorial Wall 21 years ago to honor deputies who have fallen in the line of duty. The Florida FOP Memorial is 40 years old this year and lists the names of 941 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Florida.
