Flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer James McWhorter killed in I-95 crash in Yulee

FLORIDA — Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered local flags to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of fallen officer James McWhorter.

Action News Jax reported when the 31-year-old officer with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Law Enforcement Division was killed in a crash on I-95 in Yulee on Feb. 12.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, McWhorter was attempting to cross I-95 from the northbound agricultural inspection station to the southbound inspection station using the median break for official use only. As he was crossing, a Ford F-150 crashed into the passenger side of his patrol car, killing him.

“To honor the memory of Officer James McWhorter and his service to our state, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at the Agricultural Inspection Stations 16A and 16B on Interstate 95 in Yulee, Florida, the Clay County Courthouse in Green Cove Springs, Florida, and the City Hall of Orange Park, Florida, from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, February 19, 2022,” DeSantis said in a memorandum addressed to Colonel James Wiggins of Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Orange Park Mayor Randy Anderson and Mike Cella, chair of county commissioners in Clay County.

“Officer McWhorter joined the Florida Department of Agriculture in the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement in January 2019 and was certified in June 2019 after graduating from the Florida Gateway College Public Safety Training Center. He will be remembered for his dedication to public service, his colleagues, and his family,” DeSantis added.

According to funeral arrangements announced online, McWhorter will be laid to rest on Saturday.

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