Hero Down: Florida DOC Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud Fatally Shot During Training Exercise

Crawfordville, FL – Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud died in the line of duty on Aug. 26 due to an unintentional discharge during firearms training, according to the DOC.

The incident occurred at the Harry K. Singletary Training Academy at Wakulla Correctional Institution, the DOC said in a press release on Saturday.

“It appears she was injured by an accidental discharge during firearms training,” the agency said. “No other staff were involved.”

Correctional Officer Trainee Cloud was rushed to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds.

No other details regarding the circumstances of the fatal shooting have been released.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the ongoing investigation, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of Officer Whitney Cloud,” Florida DOC Secretary Mark Inch said in the press release. “As a newly hired officer trainee, Officer Cloud vowed to make a difference in the lives of others and protect her community.”

“We are immensely saddened by this unexpected tragedy. Our deepest condolences go out to her loved ones and fellow officers during this extremely difficult time,” Inch wrote.

Correctional Officer Trainee Cloud joined the DOC on June 25.

She was assigned to the Jefferson Correctional Institution in Monticello, Florida, WFTV reported.

🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹

Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud

Florida Department of Corrections, Florida

EOW: Thursday, August 26, 2021#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/kFfY0jOjCq

— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) August 31, 2021

Our sympathies go out to @FL_Corrections and the family and friends of Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud who died as a result of an accidental discharge during firearms training. #LODD #EOW pic.twitter.com/yK5Q0WpYSg

— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) August 30, 2021

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Florida Department of Corrections Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.