Floor SpeechNeutral2026-05-12

HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY

Crime & Justice

Context

On 2026-05-12, Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL-4) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY" in the House.

Full Text

HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E430] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY ______ HON. AARON BEAN of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the fallen officers of Clay County. There is a moment at every police memorial that always stands out to me. It is the moment when the names are read. No applause. No music. Just a voice, speaking each name slowly into the quiet. In that moment, something powerful happens. Those names stop being lines on a page and return to us as lives once lived--fathers and daughters, partners and friends. Men and women who once pinned on a badge, stepped into the unknown, and chose service over self. I include in the Record, twelve of those names from Clay County, Florida: Sheriff Josephus A. Peeler; Sheriff Charles M. Wilson; Sheriff Theodore S. Cherry; Sergeant Richard Watkins; Auxiliary Deputy Arthur Caton; Deputy Wilson Walker; Sergeant Eddie Hayes; Detective David A. White; Deputy Ben Zirbel; Sergeant Eric Twisdale; Deputy Clint Seagle; and Chief Derek Asdot. Each of these men served the people of Clay County with courage, integrity, and a deep sense of duty. Each answered the same call that law enforcement officers across America answer every day--a call to stand between danger and the community they serve. They knew the risks of the badge, and they accepted them anyway. Behind every one of these names is a story of service. Long shifts. Missed holidays. Quiet acts of courage that most people never see--a commitment to protect their neighbors and uphold the law even when it demanded the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy continues today through the deputies and officers who still serve Clay County with honor. On May 7, 2026, the Clay County Sheriffs Office gathered to remember these heroes who gave their lives in the line of duty. Their families, fellow officers, and community stood together to ensure that their service is never forgotten. Mr. Speaker, a grateful Nation remembers. Their watch has ended, but their example lives on, and in Clay County, Florida, their names will always be called. ____________________

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HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E430] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE FALLEN OFFICERS OF CLAY COUNTY ______ HON. AARON BEAN of florida in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the fallen officers of Clay County. There is a moment at every police memorial that always stands out to me. It is the moment when the names are read. No applause. No music. Just a voice, speaking each name slowly into the quiet. In that moment, something powerful happens. Those names stop being lines on a page and return to us as lives once lived--fathers and daughters, partners and friends. Men and women who once pinned on a badge, stepped into the unknown, and chose service over self. I include in the Record, twelve of those names from Clay County, Florida: Sheriff Josephus A. Peeler; Sheriff Charles M. Wilson; Sheriff Theodore S. Cherry; Sergeant Richard Watkins; Auxiliary Deputy Arthur Caton; Deputy Wilson Walker; Sergeant Eddie Hayes; Detective David A. White; Deputy Ben Zirbel; Sergeant Eric Twisdale; Deputy Clint Seagle; and Chief Derek Asdot. Each of these men served the people of Clay County with courage, integrity, and a deep sense of duty. Each answered the same call that law enforcement officers across America answer every day--a call to stand between danger and the community they serve. They knew the risks of the badge, and they accepted them anyway. Behind every one of these names is a story of service. Long shifts. Missed holidays. Quiet acts of courage that most people never see--a commitment to protect their neighbors and uphold the law even when it demanded the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy continues today through the deputies and officers who still serve Clay County with honor. On May 7, 2026, the Clay County Sheriffs Office gathered to remember these heroes who gave their lives in the line of duty. Their families, fellow officers, and community stood together to ensure that their service is never forgotten. Mr. Speaker, a grateful Nation remembers. Their watch has ended, but their example lives on, and in Clay County, Florida, their names will always be called. ____________________