Jackson County Sheriff's Office to Host Memorial Service

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: May 18 2016 10:44 AM

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its annual Law Enforcement
Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
located at 4012 Lafayette St. Marianna, FL. Sheriff Lou Roberts would like to extend an open invitation to the Jackson County Community and strongly encourages any and all family members of our Fallen Officers to attend so that they may be recognized.

The event will begin at 9:00 AM with an awards ceremony where Sheriff Roberts will be recognizing his staff for their outstanding performance through the year, as well as presenting awards for Rookie of the Year, Deputy of the Year and Investigator of the Year. The awards ceremony is expected to be brief and will be followed by an approximate 30 minute intermission.

At 10:00 AM the annual memorial service will begin, honoring the Deputies and Staff who layed down their lives in the line of duty. This service is sacred to Sheriff Roberts and the members of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. It is the mission of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard Team to ensure that their memories are never forgotten.

The Honor Guard will be assisted in this ceremony by the American Legion Post 241 of Sneads, FL, the Warriors Watch Riders, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Posse. The Fallen Officers being remembered during this ceremony are as followed: Sheriff Lewis Williams- Sheriff Williams was the first Florida lawman to die in the line of duty in the post-colonial era. On April 26, 1844 “ in a swamp” near Marianna, while trying to arrest William H. Watson and James Avant of the notorious Avant Gang, Sheriff Williams was shot and killed. The two murderers escaped, but Watson was wounded. Avant was captured near Apalachicola and taken to Marianna where they were hung without trial on Friday, June 20, 1845. Watson was captured and his fate is currently unknown. End of Watch: 4/26/1844

John Ivey- As a 30 year old Deputy Sheriff, John Ivey went to a moonshine whiskey
raid and was shot during that raid by Talmage Schuller. He left behind a wife and a 3 year old son. End of Watch: 02/12/1921

Dave Hamm- Deputy Sheriff Dave Hamm and Sheriff Flake Chambliss were in route to deliver three convicted bank robbers to the Washington County Jail. While Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Louis S. Roberts III, Sheriff
4012 Lafayette St.
P.O. Box 919 Phone (850) 482-9624
Marianna, FL 32446 Fax (850) 482-9017
2 enroute one of the bank robbers pulled a gun (which was slipped to him while in the courtroom) and started shooting inside of the vehicle. One of the bank robbers, Robert McKinney and Dave Hamm both died of gun shot wounds in the Washington County Hospital. End of Watch: 10/27/1934

William D. Thomas- Deputy Sheriff William Thomas was on routine patrol when he was advised of a drunken driver on Hwy 231. Deputy Thomas spotted the vehicle and gave chase. Deputy Thomas lost control of his patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed and wrecked. He died as a result of his injuries. End of Watch: 10/03/1940

Allen Heldon Finch & Aaron Lee Creel- In the early morning hours of the 4th of July 1963, three convicted inmates in the Jackson County Jail set fire to their cotton mattresses in an attempt to escape. The Jailor called the local fire department and the inmates were taken out of their cells. The inmates were overcome by the toxic fumes of the burning mattresses, but revived in the street infront of the jail. The inmates were taken to Jackson Hospital for treatment. Deputies Finch and Creel were to guard the prisoners. One inmate, Weaver, expressed a need to go to the bathroom and the Deputies escorted him there. Inmate Weaver (being a big man) jumped one of the Deputies and managed to get his gun and shot both Deputies. Deputies Finch and Creel both died as a result of their injuries. Deputy Finch left behind a wife and child. End of Watch: 7/4/1963

Sgt. James Bevis- On the night of April 4th, 1985, Sgt Bevis responded to an armed
robbery which just occurred. Deputy Bevis spotted a vehicle which matched the
description of the vehicle reported to have been used in the armed robbery. He
began to follow and then stopped the vehicle. He removed both suspects from the vehicle and advised Dispatch that he was O.K. and had suspects with a gun and a purse from the robbery. One of the suspects suddenly jumped Deputy Bevis, took his gun and then the two suspects shot him three times with his own gun. Deputy Bevis died as a result of his injuries. He left behind a wife and two children. End of Watch: 4/4/1985

Mellie McDaniel- Wife of Retired Sheriff John P. McDaniel. On January 30, 2007
Mellie was followed home by a man suspected of killing his own wife back in 2001
and his accomplice. Mellie was shot in the driveway of her residence where she died as a result of her injuries. End of Watch: 1/30/2007

Harold “Mike” Altman- On January 30, 2007 Deputy Altman responded to a call for help at the home of then Sheriff John P. McDaniel and wife Mellie McDaniel. Deputy Altman was the first unit on scene and found Mellie had been shot. Two men open fire on Deputy Altman. Deputy Altman died as a result of that gunfire. Moments later, the Sheriff and two deputies arrived and exchanged gunfire with the two men; both suspects were killed as a result. End of Watch: 1/30/2007

Colonel Greg Malloy (Florida Department of Corrections)- On February 2, 2011
Holmes Correctional Institution Colonel Greg Malloy and the Holmes CI K-9 tracking  3 team along with local law enforcement were pursuing a Jackson County suspect when the units exchanged gunfire with the suspect in a wooded area. Colonel Malloy was shot during this exchange and died as a result of his injuries. K-9 Officer Arthur Teal was also injured during the incident. End of Watch: 2/2/2011

The guest key note speaker for the service will be Sgt. Robert Lundy of the Taylor
County Sheriff’s Office. On February 2, 2014, Sgt. Lundy was at a dealership in
Perry, FL waiting for his Patrol vehicle to be repaired when a gunman opened fire.
Sgt. Lundy took quick action without thought for his own safety and eliminated the threat against innocent citizens. As a result of his bravery and quick action, many lives were saved. However, Sgt. Lundy sustained serious life threatening injuries to his chest/abdomen area. By the grace of God, through numerous surgeries and with the assistance of his friends, family, and community Sgt. Lundy survived his injuries and will be sharing his thoughts and reflections upon that day.

Following the memorial service refreshments will be provided by Florida Commerce Credit Union. Sheriff Roberts would like to extend his gratitude to Evangel Worship Center, Williams Funeral Home of Graceville, FL, Marianna Chapel, James and Sikes Funeral Home of Marianna, FL, Mr. Chuck Hudson, and Mr. James Brooks for the donations of equipment and food that make this day possible.

 

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