The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has posthumously awarded the Purple Heart to fallen OCSO Deputy Corporal Ray C. Hamilton.

• During a ceremony held earlier this week, Sheriff Eric Aden presented the award to Corporal Hamilton’s widow, Renee, in recognition of his selfless sacrifice while serving on the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.

The Purple Heart is the oldest formal award bestowed by the United States Military and Law Enforcement agencies and is widely recognized as a symbol of bravery, courage, and honor. The award is presented to any sworn member of the agency who sustains serious or permanent injury while engaged in enforcement action.

During the presentation of the award, a statement was read describing the Purple Heart as a symbol of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and their families in service to their communities.

• “This award is distinct in the fact that none of us wish to earn or issue one but we all know or should know that it is possible, if not likely. Law enforcement officers and their families sacrifice much in the service of their communities and it is therefore fitting and proper that their sacrifice be honored and remembered.”

Corporal Hamilton lost his life on Saturday, December 24 when a domestic violence suspect opened fire on responding deputies from inside his residence.

• In recognition of his honorable service to the community, he was posthumously awarded the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Purple Heart.

The memory of Corporal Hamilton’s service and sacrifice will live on in the hearts and traditions of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The award, which is purple and heart-shaped, is symbolic of the recipient’s heart for service to others and will forever serve as a reminder of the bravery and courage displayed by Deputy Corporal Hamilton in the line of duty.