DeFuniak Springs, Florida, US
Florida Department of Corrections
Police Officer, K-9 unit
2/2/2011, Holmes County, FL
As you know, we lost one of our shining stars on Wednesday, February 2, whenHolmes C.I. Colonel Greg Malloy was killed during an exchange of gunfire with a suspected killer that he and his K-9 team were pursuing with local law enforcement. One of our other K-9 officers, CO Arthur Teal, was also injured, but has since been released from the hospital.
Colonel Malloy rose quickly through the Department’s ranks, beginning in 1988 as a CO at Okaloosa C.I. and Work Camp, where he worked his way up to Lieutenant. From there he was promoted to Captain at Washington C.I. in 2007, then Major at Tomoka C.I. Work Camp before returning home to his roots in the Panhandle when he was promoted to Colonel at Holmes C.I. in July 2010.
He had recently completed the Department’s Leadership Succession of Command Training. In a survey from that class, he credited his mother and father for instilling in him good values and a strong work ethic. He was close to his family, particularly his daughter, whom he adored. He made sure he attended as many of her sporting events as possible, even the out-of-town games. One colleague said simply, “She was his heart.”
Recently-retired Mary Ellen Dayan was the Warden at Holmes C.I. when Greg was promoted to Colonel. She tells this story.
“From the day he arrived at Holmes C.I., it was obvious that Greg was strongly committed to staff. He came to work in the early morning hours and visited with midnight staff every day. He stood inside the gate every morning and afternoon so he could greet staff members coming on duty or leaving for home. He convinced other Department Heads in medical, education, maintenance, etc., to stand with him on different days. Line staff became used to having a chance to speak with him each day or just to say ‘hi’ and he had a remark or kind word for every one of them. I spoke with many staff at Holmes (the morning after his death) and they said the hardest thing for them was walking through the gate knowing the Colonel was not there. Many had to sort of regroup before walking in.” she said.
Current Holmes C.I. Warden John Whitfield spoke with Greg before he left the institution to assist his K-9 Unit. He relayed these thoughts about Greg’s character and attitude.
“Greg Malloy was one of the finest men I’ve been honored to know. It did not take long after I met him to realize that his character and integrity were unimpeachable. He loved his family, his career, the people he worked with and the Florida Department of Corrections. Greg did not have to be where he was Wednesday morning, but he felt so strongly about his mission to protect the citizens of Holmes County and the people that he worked with that he insisted on going. How many Colonels go on K-9 runs? Normally it is a Lieutenant or Captain. We got the call that morning from the Holmes County S.O. that double murder suspect Wade Williams had been located and had shot a citizen and they were requesting K-9 assistance. Colonel Malloy came to my office with his fatigues under his arm and said “Boss, I’ve got to go with them, this is a dangerous run and they’re my men and I need to be with them. We’ve got to get Williams locked up before he kills someone else.” Normally a Colonel doesn’t tell the Warden what he is going to do, but that is how strongly he felt about his responsibility to his men on that day. Having been a former K-9 Officer and K-9 Sergeant, he knew they could benefit from his experience. The K-9 team members said that as they ran the track they could tell from the dogs’ actions they were very close to the subject and that Colonel Malloy was constantly giving them advice trying to protect them. Colonel Greg Malloy gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to protect the men he loved and felt responsible for. I will never forget my time on earth with a true HERO: Greg Malloy.”
Greg’s fellow K-9 team members said they not only lost their Colonel this week, they lost their friend. An institution lost a leader, and a mentor. A daughter lost her loving father. A family lost their brother, and son. This Department lost one of its shining stars. And the state of Florida lost an outstanding public servant, and an honest-to-God hero.