National Association of Retired Cops

08/13/2026

Retired Police Officer Eugene “Gene” Earl Wells passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the age of 91.



Officer Wells was born in Vienna, Georgia and graduated from Hastings High School.



After high school, Officer Wells played semi-pro baseball before enlisting in the United States Air Force, where he served in Korea. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Officer Wells worked various jobs prior to beginning his career in law enforcement.



In August 1964, Officer Wells joined the Duval County Road Patrol and started his career as a Patrolman. He remained with the agency through consolidation. During his time with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, he served as a patrol officer and was assigned to the Mayport and Hanna Park areas for the majority of his career.



In May 1995, Officer Wells retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 31 years of dedicated service.



Following his retirement, Officer Wells briefly worked in Marketing for La Cruise Casino. He was active in fundraising for different organizations and enjoyed watching various sporting events, especially the Florida Gators. He enjoyed spending time with family until his passing.



Officer Wells is survived by his wife of 69 years, Rita Wells; daughter, Toni Skorusa; four grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son, Hank Wells.



Service:



A memorial service will occur at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church (1423 Eighth Ave. N.) in Jacksonville Beach, FL on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.



The JSO Honor Guard will render honors at the church.



Condolences:



Wells Family

12766 Meadowsweet Ln

Jacksonville, FL 32225



Obituary: Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home



Information for this notification was provided by Officer Well’s daughter, Toni Skorusa.

08/10/2026

Sharing sad news just posted by Gene’s daughter Toni:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dad, Gene Wells. He was loved by so many and has shared so many memories with everyone he encountered. He lived a life of love and service to his community and his family, and he will be greatly missed. We are at peace and in good spirits remembering him. If there was one thing he wanted everyone to know, it’s GO GATORS!

Details of his service will be posted once they are finalized.

08/01/2026

Time for a change in Nassau County…

People feel like decisions are being made without them, costs keep going up, and families are being priced out of their own community.

That’s why, if elected, these will be my first three motions:

✔ Analyze every tax dollar before asking for more
✔ Keep Nassau County affordable for local families
✔ Make sure you actually know about zoning changes before they impact you

None of this is complicated. It’s about putting residents first and bringing some common sense back to how this county operates.

1. Analyze Every Tax Dollar Before Asking for More:

I will introduce a motion for an independent, third party budget analysis of Nassau County’s budget to identify waste, duplication, and unnecessary spending. Before this county considers raising taxes or fees, we owe taxpayers a clear understanding of where their money is going and where we can do better.

2. Keep Nassau County Affordable for Local Families:

I will introduce a motion to direct staff and the County Attorney to research a legally sound way to reduce or waive impact fees for families building a primary residence on family owned land. This is about keeping local families in Nassau County, especially in our rural communities, not pricing them out of their own property. Any proposal will be structured to ensure fairness and avoid shifting costs onto existing residents.

3. You Deserve to Know About Zoning Changes:

I will introduce a motion to expand public notification for rezonings from 300 feet to 3,000 feet. Right now, many residents are not being notified about zoning changes that can directly impact their property, their neighborhood, and their quality of life.

Whether you live in Hilliard, Callahan, Yulee, or Fernandina, if it impacts your area, you deserve to know and have a real opportunity to be heard before decisions are made. If a modest increase in mailing costs leads to better public participation, fewer appeals, or fewer legal challenges, then it is an investment worth making.

07/20/2026

Retired Police Officer Gerald “Jerry” Eugene Cobb passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the age of 75.



Officer Cobb was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania and graduated from Ambridge High School.



After high school, Officer Cobb briefly attended Beaver Community College and worked for Trans World Airlines before enlisting in the United States Navy. After being discharged from the Navy, Officer Cobb was employed in the reservation department at Amtrak for 11 years prior to beginning his career in law enforcement.



In June 1987, Officer Cobb joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Officer. During his time with the JSO, he worked as a detective in the Burglary unit, a pilot with the Police Aviation Unit, and an investigator for the State Attorney’s Office.



In October 2009, Officer Cobb retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 22 years of dedicated service.



Following his retirement, Officer Cobb spent his time fishing, traveling, and camping. He was dedicated to serving in the church with Mount Dora Children’s Home, where he aided with hurricane relief by flying water and hygiene products to areas of need. Officer Cobb enjoyed spending quality time with family until his passing.



Officer Cobb is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ida Cobb.



Service:



A memorial service will occur at the Arlington Church of Christ (6215 Arlington Rd.) on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.



Mrs. Cobb requested that a donation be made to Mount Dora Children’s Home in lieu of flowers.



The JSO Honor Guard will render honors at the church.

07/02/2026

🙏💙

Celebrate the life of John Farmer, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin.

06/19/2026

Retired Police Officer Carl Nelson Shepherd passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the age of 61 after suffering from medical complications.



Officer Shepherd was born in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from Trinity Christian Academy.



After high school Officer Shepherd joined the United States Marine Corps, where he promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.



In September 1989, he joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Officer. Officer Shepherd was assigned to Zone 2 and Zone 5, where he was known as the “Zone 5 Legend.” He also served with the Zone 4 Task Force and was a member of the Mobile Field Force.



In April 2017, Officer Shepherd retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 27 years of dedicated service.



Following his retirement, Officer Shepherd briefly worked in a civilian capacity with the J.S.O. as a Process Server. He enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with his family and pets until his passing.



Officer Shepherd is survived by his 3 daughters, Amanda Sztroin (husband - Sonny), Pauline Wood (husband - Garrett), and Cecelia Shepherd; his son, Alex Shepherd; and 3 grandchildren.



Services:



Visitation: Monday, June 22, 2026, from 5:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.

Location: Hardage-Giddens Riverside Event Pavilion (1373 Memorial Park Rd)



Funeral: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 2:00p.m. – 3:00p.m.

Location: Hardage-Giddens Riverside Event Pavilion (1373 Memorial Park Rd)



Committal: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 3:00p.m. – 3:30p.m.

Location: Riverside Memorial Park (7242 Normandy Blvd)



The J.S.O. Honor Guard will render honors at the graveside.



Condolences:

Shepherd Family

7822 Winder Rd.

Maclenny, FL 32063



Email: [email protected]



Obituary Website: Hardage-Giddens



Information for this notification was provided by Officer Shepherd’s sister, Dana.

06/18/2026

A huge thank you to Ivan Pena for providing me with information on officers who have passed away for many years🙏💙

Please see his retirement announcement below:

To My J.S.O. Family,

This letter is to officially announce my notice of retirement. Next Friday, June 26, 2026, will mark my last day on payroll and as a member of the Honor Guard as a Logistical and Technical Support Officer with the J.S.O.

My decision was not an easy one, but it was necessary for me and my family.

More than 20 years ago, I began writing the notifications of the deaths of officers, both past and present, that many of you read in your emails. With the help of the Sheriff's secretaries over the years—starting with Terri Monroe, followed by Joanne Seach, Lori Washington, and now Latishia Jackson—the memories of those who have passed away have not been forgotten and continue to be recognized and honored.

I have always felt that those who once served, as well as those who currently serve, are an important part of our agency's history and deserve to be recognized. I’ve written hundreds of notifications over the years, and I shed tears alongside families as I gathered information about their loved ones. I am happy to announce, however, that Honor Guard member Laura Speicher is gradually taking over what I started, and that torch will continue to burn. For those of you who use to contact me on a regular basis regarding the passing of a member, please contact Laura after June 26, 2026, at [email protected] or (904) 655-8668.

June 1, 2026, marked a significant point in my career; 30 years with the Honor Guard. Of those years, 22 were served while on active duty followed by 8 years as a Logistical and Support Officer for the unit. Little did I know that my interview with former Lt. Jerry Coxen on that day would not only result in my selection to the Honor Guard but would also mark the beginning of an awesome journey with the team. Please know that I am deeply and humbly grateful for the opportunity to wear the uniform, represent this agency, and help train a unit that I have always been proud to be a part of.

I will miss all of you, as well as the friendships, laughter, and memories I have shared with you over the years.

I can’t leave without providing my sincere thanks to former Sheriff Mike Williams for bringing me back on a part time basis after my short six-week retirement from J.S.O. in 2018, Sheriff Pat Ivey and Sheriff T.K. Waters—once an active member of the Honor Guard alongside me in the 1990’s—for allowing me the opportunity to continue serving J.S.O. in my capacity.

Please know that I am only a phone call or email away if any of you, or any member of my extended J.S.O. family, ever need any assistance that I can provide.

My passion and love for the Honor Guard will always remain a constant in my heart, and those 30 years of memories with the Honor Guard will never be forgotten.

With that, I bid everyone a sincere and fond farewell. Thank you for all love, support, and guidance that all of you have given me over the years.

God Bless.

Respectfully,

(Ret.) Ivan Peña, #7168

Honor Guard Logistical and Technical Support Officer Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

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