Officer Whitney Cloud started working for the agency on June 25
Aug 30, 2021
By Michaela Mulligan
Tampa Bay Times
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Corrections
says an officer trainee was killed Thursday in an accidental shooting
during firearms training.
Officer Whitney Cloud was killed on August 25. (FDC)
The agency identified the trainee as Whitney Cloud. She started working for the state prison system on June 25.
Cloud was assigned to Jefferson Correctional Institution in
Jefferson County and had enrolled in training at the Harry K.
Singletary Training Academy at Wakulla Correctional Institution in
Wakulla County, according to the agency.
No one else was involved in the accidental shooting that
fatally wounded Cloud, the agency said. Officials did not release any
other details about the shooting, including how it happened, where it
happened and what weapon was used.
She was taken to a local hospital for emergency medical
treatment and later died there. No one else was injured, the agency
said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of Officer Whitney Cloud,” said a statement
from Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch. “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.”
This past week the Florida Department of Corrections said
it will close several prisons in North Florida to alleviate a severe
staffing shortage. The agency has about 5,000 vacancies for correctional
officers.
