By Corrections1 Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s fallen corrections officers were honored on Wednesday by new Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch.
According to local news station WJHG, 52 officers were honored; two who lost their lives in 2018.
“They have rightly earned our love and respect and for this, we honor their memory,” Chaplain Johnny Frambo said during the ceremony.
Officers Tawanna Marin and Sergeant Derrick Dunn died in the line of duty last year. Marin was struck by a vehicle while supervising a work crew and Dunn suffered a fatal heart attack while volunteering for Hurricane Michael relief efforts.
“He knew they needed help. He probably was the first one to step up,” Dunn’s cousin, Conchita Baldwin said.
Those officers, along with 50 other names, are engraved on a fallen memorial at the Wakulla Correctional Institution.
“I am awed by the number of individuals who step forward and dedicate their life literally in service to our state and our nation,” said Inch.
The DOC currently has 2,000 vacancies and is in need of more officers. To address the shortage, the Legislature passed a bill to lower the age to become a CO from 19 to 18. That bill is awaiting the governor’s signature.