STARKE, Fla. —
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers is traveling to Florida State Prison to witness the execution of William Reaves, who was convicted of killing Deputy Richard Raczkowski in 1986.
Flowers said the execution, nearly 40 years in the making, would provide a sense of justice and closure for Raczkowski’s family, the sheriff’s office, and the community.
“I’ve been with the sheriff’s office for 20-plus years, and I’ve heard about this, and this guy being on death row my entire career. And so, uh, for it to happen now is … just a blessing, and especially one month from the anniversary of the death of Sergeant Terry Sweeting Mashkow, you know, it’s something that not just our agency, but our community needs, uh, to heal and to close out both of these tragedies,” Flowers said.
The sheriff’s office also brought a restored 1986 patrol car dedicated to Raczkowski to serve as a memorial.
Flowers said he had pushed state leaders to move forward with the execution but was still waiting for final clearance from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Reaves is set to receive a three-drug injection starting at 6 p.m. near Starke.
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