GIFFORD — A hero.
That’s how 26-year-old Briyunna Chambliss remembers her father, Indian River County Deputy Garry Chambliss, who was killed by a stray bullet the night of Feb. 17 while he was off-duty visiting family in the 4400 block of 28th Avenue.
Several hundred people attended a street dedication ceremony and unveiling in honor of Chambliss at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The bittersweet event took place in front of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, located in the same block Chambliss was killed. The street, 28th Avenue, was renamed to Garry Chambliss Avenue. 
“He served and protected the county for more than 27 years and he protected me and my sister. He was a hero to me and everyone else,” Briyunna Chambliss said. “This is important to me because he needs to be honored properly. He deserves it.”
Deputies are still searching for the person who fired the fatal shot.
“The case needs to be solved. Someone needs to come and tell us who killed him,” Briyunna Chambliss said. “We have bad days all the time.”
The crowd gathered around the street sign as Briyunna Chambliss and her sister De’ja Chambliss, 17, both of Sebastian, pulled a rope to remove a black cloth, which unveiled Garry Chambliss Avenue at 44th Place. Briyunna and De’ja Chambliss cried as they held up other Garry Chambliss Avenue street signs that will be placed on the avenue at 45th, 43rd and 41st Streets. 
Briyunna Chambliss, daughter of slain Deputy Garry Chambliss, speaks at a street unveiling for her father. 28th Avenue was renamed Garry Chambliss Avenue. Several hundred people attended the ceremony.
Posted by Nick Samuel on Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Several people who worked with Chambliss with the Sheriff’s Office Community Oriented Policing Enforcement unit spoke about his impact on the community, including Commissioner Joe Flescher, retired sheriff’s Detective Donald Hart Sr. and Deputy Teddy Floyd.
Chambliss, given by the nickname “Kool-ade,” was always positive and always had a smile on his face at work, said Floyd, who is nicknamed “Cool Breeze.”
“It’s an honor that this is being recognized for him,” Floyd said. “To Briyunna, I’m so sorry, we will not stop until we get this.”
Tears came to Flescher’s eyes as he talked about his close colleague.
“He was smooth as velvet in his delivery, but could be titanium steel when he had to be,” said Flescher, who previously worked at the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy and spokesman. “Up until his last last moment, when he was taken from us, he uttered words to ensure everyone else was safe.”
Hart said he knew Chambliss since they were teenagers and that they both decided to go into law enforcement together. They worked together at the Indian River County Jail.
“We came up with a goal of making things better in the community. He was a little brother to me; we fought and argued, just like anyone else,” said Hart, who now is a Sebastian police officer. “He was a man, a brother, a father, and will always be part of my life.”
Other notable people who attended the ceremony were Commissioners Tim Zorc, Susan Adams, Peter O’Bryan and Bob Solari, County Administrator Jason Brown, Assistant County Administrator Micheal Zito and officials from the Sheriff’s Office and from the police departments for Sebastian, Vero Beach and Fellsmere.
Also in attendance were Community Activist Micheal C. Marsh and NAACP President Tony Brown.
The night of Feb. 17, a shootout had erupted between two individuals who were more than 200 feet away from Garry Chambliss, Sheriff Deryl Loar said. Makhail Malik Chambliss, 22 and distant relative of Garry Chambliss, was arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with a felony of discharge firearm from vehicle by occupant.
The search for the person who fired the fatal shot continues.
