- December 13, 2025
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will be renamed after Sheriff Rick Staly to honor his 50 years of service in law enforcement.
At the request of FCSO Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge, the Flagler County Commission unanimously voted to rename the operations center after Staly at the Oct. 6 meeting. The Flagler County Commission approved the renaming in a 5-0 vote at the Oct. 20 meeting.
Strobridge told the Observer he could not think of anyone better to rename the facility after.
“From the time that we moved out of 901 East Moody Blvd. to now, the sheriff was the catalyst,” Strobridge said.
The FCSO Operations Center, located at 61 Sheriff EW Johnston Drive, opened in 2022. It replaced the FCSO’s previous center of operations at 901 East Moody Blvd.
When the idea was initially brought up at the Oct. 6 commission meeting, Commissioner Greg Hansen suggested renaming should be for his retirement. Chair Andy Dance said on Oct. 20 that his interpretation of the ordinance is that it is for those “not currently serving,” but said the policy isn’t clear.
“I don't see any reason not to support my fellow commissioners on this,” Dance said.
The policy does not expressly state that an individual needs to be retired. The county resolution that outlines naming guidelines does set certain standards: naming should be a “rare event” where the recognized individual has made “exceptional contributions” to the county, including financial gifts, public service as an elected official, public service as a community volunteer or long-term sponsorship agreements.
The facility named after the individual also should have “a well-defined connection between the contributions” with the person.
The resolution passed by the commission recognizes Staly’s work reducing crime in Flagler County by 50% since 2017, the implementation of the inmate addiction treatment program S.M.A.R.T. and the multitude of awards, accreditations and agency recognizations across the state, region and nation the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has received under Staly’s tenure.
It also recognizes the awards Staly has personally received: the Medal of Valor, the Purple Heart Medal, the Florida Governor’s Medal of Heroism and the President’s Lifetime Achievement award from former President Barack Obama.
Several residents came out in support of renaming the operations center after Staly. Resident Steve Campfield said the county should recognize individuals while they are still around, not just after they die.
“I really think we should honor people that serve like he [Staly] does and lead like he does while they're still here to enjoy our accolades,” he said.
Jessica Durrance, speaking on behalf of the Durrance family in Bunnell, said they opposed the renaming and requested the building instead be named after FCSO Deputy George Walter “Son” Durrance.
Durrance was killed while part of a search for former FCSO Sheriff Perry Hall’s killer in August 1927, with both Durrance and Hall dying within three days of each other, according to the FCSO’s website. The Flagler County jail was named the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility in Hall’s honor.
Jessica Durrance said that while Staly’s contributions are commendable, but said the symbolic value of Durrance’s name alongside Hall’s would “provide a richer, more meaningful” tribute.
“Naming the operations center after Deputy Durrence would create a powerful, unified tribute to the foundational sacrifices made in protecting our community,” she said. “This naming would more deeply honor the community's historic values of courage, loyalty, and service.”
Dance said the county did not suggest the item – it was brought to them through a process, and he suggested the Durrance family look into and select a suitable place to name after Durrance.
Strobridge told the Observer that the FCSO remembers those who have died in its service every day, and not only has a memorial in the Operations Center has dedicated several rooms to its fallen officers. The training room was dedicated to Durrance, he said.
The FCSO takes honoring its officers very seriously, Strobridge said.
“Past, present and future, every one of our folks has got to remember the stories of sacrifice from from Perry Hall, from Sun Durrance, from Homer Brooks, from Frankie Celico, Chuck Sease to Paul Luciano,” he said. “Those names are inscribed in all of our hearts.”
