[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF NASSAU COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. AARON BEAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2026

  Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Nassau 
County Sheriff's Office as it celebrates a historic and remarkable 
milestone: 200 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Northeast 
Florida.
   The distinguished legacy of law enforcement in Nassau County began 
in 1827, when Florida Governor William Pope Duval appointed Sheriff 
Harman Holiman as the county's very first law enforcement officer.
  For two centuries, the courageous men and women of this office, both 
sworn deputies and dedicated civilian personnel, have worked tirelessly 
to preserve the rule of law, ensure domestic tranquility, and protect 
the lives and property of our residents and visitors.
  Today, this exceptional tradition of public safety continues under 
the leadership of Sheriff Bill Leeper, who began his dedicated service 
as the county's 24th Sheriff on January 8, 2013. Under his steady 
guidance, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office remains a beacon of 
professionalism, integrity, and proactive community partnership.
  Mr. Speaker, a bicentennial milestone is a time for celebration, but 
it is also a hallowed opportunity to remember those who made the 
ultimate sacrifice in defense of our community. Over the past two 
centuries, fourteen dedicated heroes gave their lives in the line of 
duty while serving Nassau County, including eight Deputies, one Police 
Chief, one Florida Highway Patrol Trooper, one Constable, and two 
Florida Department of Agriculture Officers. We owe these fallen law 
enforcement officers, and the families they left behind, a debt of 
gratitude that can never truly be repaid.
  As the Nassau County Sheriff's Office prepares its historic yearbook 
ahead of its official anniversary in January 2027, it is fitting that 
we pay special tribute to the professionals who keep our neighborhoods 
safe every single day.
  On behalf of the people of Florida's 4th Congressional District, I 
congratulate Sheriff Bill Leeper and the entire Nassau County Sheriff's 
Office on 200 years of faithful service, and I thank them for their 
unwavering commitment to our community, our state, and our Nation.

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