Okaloosa County Commissioners Pay Tribute To Deputy Sheriffs Killed In The Line of Duty
February 20, 2018
Shalimar, FL – The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners paid tribute to four deputy Sheriff killed in-the-line of duty. Supported by two rows of green clad Sheriff’s Office employees, the wives, children, aunts, and uncles of Tony Forgione, Burt Lopez, Skip York, and Bill Myers, were in attendance as the commission paid tribute to these brave deputies.
The resolution adopted today will be sent to members and leadership of the Florida Legislature. The resolution offered by Commission Chairman Graham W. Fountain, thanks the Okaloosa County State Legislative Delegation for supporting the request to file bill language to dedicate state transportation facilities after the deputies.
Chairman Fountain took time to specifically recognize State Representative Jayer Williamson, for working out the details to be able to amend the dedication language to the Highway dedication bill named after the late Senator Greg Evers who recently passed away after a traffic accident in Baker, Florida. During the discussion, Chairman Fountain commented “it is very fitting that a bill honoring Senator Evers lifetime contribution to law enforcement and public safety is being amended to the bill (CS/HB 171) where these amendments will be travelling.”
The county resolution has the following details of each hero that gave the supreme sacrifice:
On July 22, 2008, Deputy Sheriff Anthony E. “Tony” Forgione, a three (3) year veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed in the line-of-duty while attempting to arrest a patient who escaped from a secure mental health facility and posed a threat to the community; April 25, 2009, Deputy Sheriff Burton “Burt” Lopez, a six (6) year veteran of Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Sheriff Warren K. “Skip” York, a two (2) year veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, were both shot and killed in-the-line of duty while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on an armed-suspect on the charge of domestic violence, and September 22, 2015, Deputy Sheriff William J. “Bill” Myers, a twenty-six (26) year veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed in-the-line of duty while serving a domestic violence injunction.
The Okaloosa County Resolution and related State legislation- House Bill (CS/HB 171) will place into Florida law the designation of the Shalimar Bridge Number 570018 on Highway 85 South (Eglin Parkway) over Garniers’ Bayou in Okaloosa County as the “Deputies Tony Forgione and Bill Myers Memorial Bridge” and the portion of US Highway 90 East in Okaloosa County from The Shoal River Bridge to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line as “Deputies Skip York and Burt Lopez Memorial Highway”, and directing the FDOT to erect suitable markers.
The final version of the bill will be taken up prior to the close of session, which ends in about three weeks.