Two Clay County Sheriff’s Office detectives who investigate child sexual exploitation crimes have been named the 2025 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year by the Florida Sheriffs Association.
“Detective Ellis and Detective Solis so much deserve this recognition because of their dogged approach every single day when they come into work,” Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said in a video statement announcing the awards.
Ellis and Solis have worked together for years as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force and in May of last year began an investigation that ended in the discovery of two suspects producing child pornography.
“Their passion about saving children deserves this recognition, but specifically this case that we’re talking about, they definitely went above and beyond,” Cook said.
Ellis said the case was in his top three worst offenders he’s ever come across and that it took multiple agencies working together toward a common goal to rescue the children involved and take down the suspect.
Ellis said he recently got a picture of the rescued child who is now going through an adoption process with a loving family.
“These cases are not about us,” Solis said. “These awards are nice, but at the same time, life goes on, and there’s still children out there that need to be rescued, that need to be saved and that are counting on us.”
