GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Green Cove Springs now carries a more meaningful name.
County commissioners approved the dedication Tuesday for the building to be named David A. White Memorial Headquarters as a way to remember the fallen detective and hero killed in the line of duty earlier this year.
Sheriff Rick Beseler asked the commission, which owns the building, to dedicate it to White, who lost his life during a meth lab raid.
The decision to rename the building came on the same day the four people now facing charges in White's killing faced a judge for the first time.
"On Feb. 16, the Clay County Sheriff's Office suffered a tremendous blow, one that had gone probably 150 years before a tragedy of this nature happened," Beseler said. "We lost a deputy for the first time in an adversarial action."
The building's new name will remind White's family, including his wife and children, and Clay County residents of the ultimate price White paid while protecting them.
"The community has been wonderful, and their support of the family and in support of the Sheriff's Office and all the detectives for doing their jobs, and we want to let everyone know we really, really appreciate it and it makes our job easier knowing that we have the community support," Beseler said.
A black tarp covering up the new name on the building will be removed during the Sheriff's Office's annual police memorial on May 10. White's wife will unveil the name.
White's photo will also be added to the Sheriff's Office Wall of Honor at that time.