245 law officers in US died last year; 2 names added to Nassau County's memorial wall

Two men who died serving as officers for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Nassau County are now immortalized with their names added Wednesday to the county's Law Enforcement Memorial Plaza wall at the Sheriff's Office.

Cpl. James Michael McWhorter, 31, and Sgt. Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 52, join the likes of men such as Deputy Joshua Moyers, whose life was cut short by a suspect during a 2021 traffic stop.

“We feel it is important to honor and recognize all of those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty protecting Nassau County citizens regardless of agency," Sheriff Bill Leeper said. “… It doesn’t matter the badge that we wear or the color of our uniforms. We all come together because we share a special bond and a common purpose and that is to stand between good and evil.

"Our profession is unlike any other," he continued. "We must be introspective and think about this every day we pin that badge on our chest. Our lives as well as our families' lives can change in an instant. This is a time for us to remember and also remind citizens of the sacrifices that public safety officers make. Because of the oath we take, we are ready to put ourselves in harm’s way every day.”

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Leeper noted that in the field behind him were 245 American flags that represent the number of law enforcement officers in the United States who died in the line of duty in 2022 — and interim Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeff Tambasco later added that 33 have died so far this year.

Wednesday, Leeper said two more were being unveiled on the memorial wall by the families of McWhorter and Rodriguez.

McWhorter was killed on Feb. 12, 2022, while crossing in his patrol vehicle from the northbound agricultural inspection station on Interstate 95 in Yulee to the southbound station when he was struck by an oncoming pickup truck, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

The Middleburg father had four children and a fiancee, Brittney Osborne, according to his obituary. He served with the department for 2½ years.

Rodriguez died on Oct. 21, 2021, from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at an I-95 agricultural checkpoint in Yulee, according to the Officer Down tribute site.

The Jacksonville father had three daughters and had been with the department for 16 years, according to his obituary.

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement operates 23 agricultural inspection stations on 19 highways going into and out of Florida, according to its website. Officers conduct vehicle inspections 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure the safety of Florida's food supply.

Among other duties, "officers enforce laws governing businesses regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services," the website states. "We protect consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, protect Florida’s agriculture industry from theft and other crimes and safeguard the wholesomeness of food and other consumer products."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nassau County law enforcement memorial adds two new names to wall