21-106 A Portion of East Lake Road Dedicated to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael J Magli

PINELLAS COUNTY - Today, September 30, 2021, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office unveiled a sign officially dedicating a portion of East Lake Road after Deputy Magli. A special ceremony was held at Brooker Creek Elementary School located at 3130 Forelock Road where Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, Senator Ed Hooper, and Representative Chris Latvala spoke about the renaming.

Senate Bill 1716 introduced by Senator Hooper and House Bill 1329 introduced by Representative Latvala directed the Florida Department of Transportation to dedicate portions of highways after three bay-area law enforcement officers. HCSO Sergeant Brian Lavigne, PCSO Deputy Michael Magli, and TPD Officer Jesse Madsen were all killed in the line of duty in 2021.

The bill was signed by Governor DeSantis at a press conference at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on June 18, 2021. An FDOT sign was installed on the northeast corner of the intersection of East Lake Road and Forelock Road and another at East Lake Road and Keystone Road.

Deputy Magli was killed in the line of duty on February 17, 2021 while laying “Stop Sticks” along the portion of East Lake Road that is now dedicated in his name. His wife and two young daughters were also in attendance at the ceremony.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, “The naming of the roads after the men is important because a hero never dies.”

A photo attached to this release shows the FDOT sign behind (from left to right) Sheriff Gualtieri, Senator Ed Hooper, Stephanie Magli with daughters Reagan (L) and Maddie (R), Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, and Representative Chris Latvala.