SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. — A resolution passed this week by the U.S. House of Representatives honors fallen law enforcement officers — including three Northwest Florida deputies who passed away in 2025.
The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service was held in Washington DC — shining a light on those killed in the line of duty.
In the resolution, 363 fallen heroes were honored for their sacrifice, including:
Deputy Jeremy H. Cassady – Escambia County Sheriff’s OfficeSergeant Alton D. Berrian – Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy William May – Walton County Sheriff’s Office
All three were added to a memorial wall in DC and had their names spoken during the ceremony.
“They say you die twice — you die once when you die, and you die a second time the last time your name is spoken,” Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said. “So with this resolution and the wall that we have — and the wall in Tallahassee and the wall in Washington DC — these officers’ names will never be forgotten.”
Deputy Cassady was wounded in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence hostage situation in 2010. He passed in 2025 after battling cancer.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons honored him by placing his name at their stonewall earlier this week.
“I worked with Jeremy Cassady’s father at the Pensacola Police Department for about 30 years,” Sheriff Simmons said. “I know the family, I know the mom, I know the friends. And to see what they’ve gone through over the last couple of years and having the honor of putting the rose in front of Jeremy Cassidy’s stone, there’s that sense of pride that you can’t replace for anything else.”
Sergeant Berrian passed away nearly one year ago today from a cardiac incident.
“We are one big family here at the sheriff’s office, so when we lose somebody it affects everybody,” Sheriff Johnson said. “But the family, wife and kids of Sgt. Berrian and getting to come up here and see his name on the wall, it means a lot to the family.”
Deputy May was shot and killed last April while responding to a disturbance call at a Walton County Dollar General.
The sheriff’s office said that his daughter, Clarice, traveled to Washington DC for the ceremony this week “to witness firsthand the outpouring of love and support from the LEO Community.”
