- June 19, 2026
The Officer Jason Raynor Act was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, June 16.
Senate Bill 156, named after a fallen Daytona Beach Police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2021, establishes a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for defendants convicted of killing a law enforcement officer in the state.
Raynor was killed by Othal Wallace, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2023 after he was convicted of manslaughter; the State Attorney's Office had initially charged him with first degree murder of a law enforcement officer.
“Officer Raynor’s murder was a dark time for his family and our law enforcement communities,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a press release. “This law brings some much needed protections to law enforcement and honors the life and sacrifice of Officer Raynor.”
Larizza and members of the State Attorney's Office executive team have been advocating for the law in Tallahassee for the past three years, with support from Florida Sen. Tom Leek and Rep. Jessica Baker, the press release states. The bill was signed in Polk County alongside Raynor's family and members of DBPD.
