Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1. Each segment includes a 2022 update.
Photos for Headline Surfer / (Left to Right) Daytona each Police Officer Adam Webb, 37, died Sept. 1, 2021; Port Orange Police Officer Justin White, 39 died Aug. 5, 2021; Orange County Sheriff's Office Deputy First Class Craig Seijos, 54, died Aug. 5, 2021.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Three Central Florida cops lost their lives to COVID-19 in 2021.
The three were Daytona Beach Police Officer Adam Webb, Port Orange Police Officer Justin White, and Orange County Sheriff's Office Deputy First Class Craig Seijos. Here is a summary of each fallen law enforcement officer to the dreadful coronavirus here in Central Florida in the latter summer months of 2021.
DBPD's Adam Webb:
With his family’s blessing, the Daytona Beach Police Department put out a press release announcing the COVID-related passing of Adam Webb, 37, at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at AdventHealth Palm Coast with his wife by his side.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we bring this news to the Daytona Beach community,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said. “Please keep Officer Webb’s family in your thoughts and prayers. Adam was a valued member of our police department and he will be missed by everyone here.”
Citing medical privacy issues, Daytona Beach Police PIO Messod Bendayan said no information would be released on how long Webb had been hospitalized or whether he had been vaccinated for the coronavirus.
Webb was a sworn officer with DBPD for eight years. He was initially hired on Nov. 18, 2012, as a part-time reserve officer with Daytona. He was made full-time on Dec. 14, 2014, and had been with DBPD until his passing.
He earned multiple commendations from the Daytona Beach Police Department including a Unit Citation, Community Service Award, the Chief’s Award, and two Medals of Merit.
Webb’s last job assignment was as a field training officer with DBPD's Alpha Platoon for nearly six years.
Webb earned an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology from Daytona State College in 2005, and his Law Enforcement Certification in 2011 from the college.
A GoFundMe account was set up in Adam Webb's name prior to his death to help his family with medical bills.
Adam Webb is survived by his wife, Colleen Webb, and their pups Malgus and Enzo; his mother, Pamela Webb; his sister and brother, Jenifer Canas and Tito Canas; his grandmother, Debbie Colancheck; as well as his aunts, uncles, grandaunts, granduncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Here is a link to Adam Webb's obituary.
POPD's Justin White:
The Port Orange Police Department announced that one of its own, 39-year-old police officer Officer Justin White, died on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, of COVID-19.
White, a 15-year veteran of the department, was also president/CEO of the Port Orange Police Association.
White died after about two weeks in the hospital, despite ICU care and the aid of a ventilator, according to a GoFundMe page that was established to help White's family.
During his 15 years with Port Orange PD, White served the community as a K-9 handler and instructor, crime suppression team member, and union president for the Volusia County Deputy Association, according to then-interim Port Orange Police Chief Bill Proctor.
“I’ve directly supervised him on the road and he was very active and he supported the community,” Proctor said.
Proctor did not say what hospital White was in or if he was vaccinated for the coronavirus.
White got his start in Port Orange in 2006 after graduating with honors from the Daytona State College Law Enforcement Program. He graduated from Liberty University in 2018, earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and then went on to earn a Juris Master in American Legal Studies in 2020, studying online.
White became the department's first Florida Department of Law Enforcement certified K-9 instructor. For nine years, he helped develop the program and did community relations work with demonstrations at local schools. He also created a "Name the K-9 Contest," allowing elementary school students to vote on names for the police dogs.
The Port Orange police Facebook page called him a "dedicated husband, father, and a fierce advocate for the officers he worked alongside," adding, "We are grateful for his service, dedication, and sacrifice to our agency and this community."
White is survived by his wife, Carlyn, and their four children. Here is a link to Justin White's obituary.
OCSH's Craig Seijos:
The Orange County Sheriff's Office announced it lost one of its deputies to COVID-19 -- 54-year-old Deputy First Class Craig Seijos on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021.
"With the family’s permission, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Deputy First Class Craig Seijos from complications related to COVID-19," the OCSO said, adding, "He was 54 years old, and had been part of the OCSO family for nearly three decades."
The law enforcement agency did not release information on what hospital Seijos was in, how long he had been treated or if he had been vaccinated for coronavirus.
Deputy Seijos had served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office for 30 years.
Sheriff John Mina said, "Deputy Seijos was a dedicated family man who adored his wife and five adult children," Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. "His colleagues say he was an extremely generous person and was always willing to donate to a good cause. Deputy Seijos also never shied away from a healthy debate."
Mina added, "Craig dedicated much of his life to serving the residents of Orange County. We will always be grateful for his service and he will never be forgotten.”
He is survived by his wife, Ida Nivea Arias Seijos; their five children, and three grandchildren. Here is a link to Craig Seijos' obituary.
Update on law enforcement COVID-19 deaths nationwide:
2021 was the deadliest for active-duty law enforcement in nearly a century, with COVID-19 identified as the leading cause of death.
Some 458 local, state, tribal, and federal officers died in the line of duty in 2021, according to a preliminary report from the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum. Of those, 301 died from COVID-19.
"(2021's) statistics demonstrate that America's front-line law enforcement officers continue to battle the deadly effects of the Covid-19 pandemic nationwide," the report reads in part. "Preliminary data shows that some 301 officer fatalities have been identified as caused by Covid this year, and this number appears to increase almost daily."
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.