On Tuesday, February 10, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing the honorable service of Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May and supporting the naming of a portion of U.S. Highway 90 as “Deputy William May Memorial Highway.”

Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Will May gave his life protecting the community on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, after responding to a disturbance call at the Dollar General Market at 10738 US 90W in DeFuniak Springs that resulted in a shooting. He had served with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for over 11 years, the last six of which were spent serving as a law enforcement officer. Deputy May was survived by his wife and four children.

County Administrator Brian Kellenberger was joined by Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson and numerous Sheriff’s Office deputies, as he read the resolution into the record:

“Whereas, Deputy William May honorably served the residents and visitors of Walton County as an employee of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years, with his last 6 years of service as a law enforcement officer; “Whereas, Deputy May, on April 2, 2025, sacrificed his life serving and protecting the people of Walton County; “Whereas, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (the “Board”) recognizes the State of Florida honored Deputy May by naming a portion of U.S. 90 between Lancelot Road and Oakridge Way in his memory as the “Deputy William May Memorial Highway” through HB 987, which was signed into law by Governor Ron Desantis on June 13, 2025 and became effective on July 1, 2025; and “Whereas, the Board fully supports these efforts to honor Deputy May’s life and his heroism. “Now therefore, the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County, FL hereby formally expresses its support for naming a portion of U.S. 90 between Lancelot Road and Oakridge Way in his memory as “Deputy William May Memorial Highway”.”

Sheriff Adkinson thanked the Commissioners for passing the proclamation honoring Deputy May and expressed thanks to State Representative Shane Abbott and State Senator Jay Trumbull for sponsoring the bill and Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing it into law.

“Not usually at a loss for words, I’m just going to let it go with this,” said Sheriff Adkinson, “Thank you. We appreciate you on behalf of his family and the WCSO family.”

Walton County Commission Honors Sheriff’s Deputy Will May