Emotional moment as Neil Perry Complex named

After St Johns County Sheriff David B Shoar concluded his budget report before the Board of County Commissioners, he was granted a few moments to talk about his friend and mentor, former Sheriff Neil J Perry who served the office for twenty years.

Shoar’s voice cracked as he spoke, deliberately and softly, about the accomplishments of his predecessor in office; a man who brought education and accreditation to an agency that had fallen behind in technology.

The sheriff told the audience that Perry is gravely ill; a fact that many knew was the reason that he could not appear in person to be recognized.

Shoar introduced those in attendance to Perry’s sister, Dr. Ione Perry, sister-in-law Mary Perry and Law Enforcement Division Director, Art May, Perry’s son-in-law.

At 10:03, commission chair Mark Miner read a proclamation; which was seconded by Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson and after unanimous vote of the Board, was enacted as Ordinance 2012-175 — renaming the St Johns County Criminal Justice Complex to the “Neil J Perry Criminal Justice Complex” effective immediately.

Photo credits: © 2012 Historic City News Staff Photographer and contributed photograph by Amy E Kelley