INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — State Road 60 could soon have another name, if Florida legislators support a local movement to name a stretch of the highway for a slain Indian River County deputy.
The Board of County Commissioners expressed support of naming a nearly 5.5-mile stretch from Interstate 95 to 43rd Avenue for Cpl. Richard Raczkowski, who was killed in the line of duty in Sept. 1986.
He is the only Indian River County Sheriff’s officer who has died while on duty. The issue of naming the highway for the corporal came up at last week’s board meeting when resident Gordon Michael addressed the commissioners.
Michael, a Vero Beach resident, told the board that he had spoken with State Representative Ralph Poppell about naming the state road for the fallen officer.
Rep. Poppell told Michael to bring the suggestion to the Indian River County Board of Commissioners first and then work his way up, Michael told the board.
Commissioner Gary Wheeler said that he supported the recommendation – as he did the first time the suggestion was made – noting that he knew the deputy well and remembered the night Cpl. Raczkoski died.
“If anybody is deserving of recognition, Richard certainly was,” Wheeler said.
Already, the Sheriff’s Office helicopters have “RR” on them, in memory of the officer.
The Board of County Commissioners is expected to vote to approve a resolution of support in the naming of SR 60 for Cpl. Raczkoski at its Dec. 1 meeting. The resolution would then be sent to the Legislative Delegation, which will meet Dec. 4.
The commissioners said that they hope to get the naming approved during this legislative session so that the road can be dedicated once construction wraps up.
Earlier this month, state and county officials dedicated a portion of SR 60, west of I-95 to the Florida Turnpike, to the late Florida Representative Stan Mayfield.
On Sept. 23, 1986, Cpl. Raczkoski responded to a 911 hang up from the Zippy Mart near Vero Beach around 3 a.m. A confrontation ensued between the officer and a suspect, identified as William Reaves.
During the confrontation, Reaves shot Cpl. Raczkoski multiple times, who later died on his way to the hospital.
Reaves was convicted on murder charges in August 1987 and again in February 1992 after the courts reversed the initial conviction. Reaves was sentenced to death and is currently sitting on death row.
Cpl. Raczkoski left behind a wife and son, who was born after his death. The officer enjoyed motorcycles, auto mechanics, boats, fishing and was certified SCUBA diver, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office memorial.
