Governor Rick Scott today made the following statement regarding the passing of Florida Law Enforcement Hall of Fame Officer Willis D. Booth.
Governor Scott said, “My wife, Ann, and I are saddened to hear of the passing of lifelong law enforcement officer, Willis D. Booth. Mr. Booth was one of our first inductees into the Florida Law Enforcement Hall of Fame honoring him for his more than 40 years of service to our state and local law enforcement organizations. It is because of dedicated law enforcement officers like Willis that Florida is a safer place to live, work and play. I extend my sincerest gratitude to Willis for his lifetime of service and my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”
Willis began his career in 1947 with the Clearwater Police Department, rising through the ranks to become chief of police in 1957. In 1968, he joined the newly formed Florida Department of Law Enforcement where he had a distinguished career until his retirement in 1984. Following his retirement from FDLE, Willis became the Executive Director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, a position he held until 1991. His leadership helped shape Florida’s law enforcement community.
