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Charlotte County commissioners adopt Sergeant Elio Diaz Memorial Highway designation
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution designating the segment of U.S. 41 between Melbourne Street and Church Street as Sergeant Elio Diaz Memorial Highway, honoring a deputy killed in the line of duty on Dec. 15, 2024.
Charlotte County commissioners on Sept. 9 unanimously adopted a resolution designating a segment of U.S. 41 between Melbourne Street and Church Street as the Sergeant Elio Diaz Memorial Highway.
The resolution, read aloud during the meeting, notes that Sergeant Elio Diaz was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 15, 2024, and that the Florida Legislature previously authorized local honorary roadway designations. The board voted 5–0 to adopt the designation, which takes effect immediately upon adoption.
The county opened the item for public input and invited law-enforcement dignitaries and family to speak. Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office leadership and state legislators attended and addressed the meeting. Sheriff Bill Prummell described Diaz as “a great deputy” and emphasized the family and community meaning of a permanent roadside memorial. State Representative Danny Nicks, who carried the bill in the Florida House, and Senate President Ben Albritton also addressed the board in support of the designation.
The resolution language cites Chapter 2025-214, Laws of Florida, and references Florida Statutes section 334.071 as the statutory mechanism for honorary roadway designations. The board directed the clerk to transmit the original resolution to the clerk of the court and approved a ceremonial copy for presentation to Diaz’s family.
The action was a noncontroversial, unanimous vote that the board and several public-safety officials described as a way to remember a deputy killed in the line of duty.
The board did not attach conditions to the honorary designation and did not authorize new roadway signage funding in the motion; staff will follow usual procedures for placement of honorary signs and for filing the adopted resolution.
More administrative follow-up: staff recorded that a signed original will be retained by the clerk and a copy will be provided to the family and sheriff’s office.
