Flagler County, FL — Sheriff Rick Staly made a special stop this week to visit longtime resident Nancy Stacy, who is preparing to celebrate her 99th birthday.
The visit brought smiles and cheers from neighbors as Staly arrived in one of the department’s most eye-catching vehicles, a 1938 Buick Police Special, escorted by members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Traffic and Motors unit.
The surprise visit quickly drew attention from residents in the area, with several people stopping to watch as the vintage patrol car made its way down the street. For many, it was the first time seeing a car from that era still running and dressed in police livery, complete with lights and markings from a bygone time in law enforcement history.
A Career in Law Enforcement
Nancy Stacy is no newcomer to the world of policing herself. Before settling in Flagler County, she spent 24 years serving as a deputy in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Her background made Tuesday’s visit especially meaningful, as it wasn’t just a birthday greeting from strangers but a moment of connection between fellow members of the law enforcement community, past and present.
Friends and family say Stacy has often spoken fondly of her years in service, and being honored by an active sheriff’s department in her retirement community struck a personal chord. Several neighbors noted that she lit up at seeing the deputies and hearing their well wishes, calling the moment a true highlight of her week.
Community Reaction Pours In
News of the visit spread quickly across local social media, where residents praised the Sheriff’s Office for taking the time to celebrate one of their own.
Comments flooded in from community members thanking the department for its thoughtfulness, with many highlighting how gestures like this reflect the close bond between local law enforcement and the residents they serve.
One local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution also shared appreciation for the visit, noting that Stacy could not stop talking about the surprise afterward and that it created a memory she will cherish.
Others online joked about hoping the department would return on her actual birthday for an encore appearance, showing just how much the gesture resonated with the public.
For Sheriff Staly and his team, the visit was described as a simple way of honoring someone who dedicated decades of her life to public service. As Nancy Stacy approaches the milestone of turning 99, her community and the officers who visited her made it clear that her years of service have not been forgotten.
