The headquarters of the Green Cove Springs Police Department will be dedicated Thursday in honor of the late Chief Derek Asdot.

The 49-year-old chief died from complications of COVID-19 in September 2021 after almost 20 years in the department, four of those as its leader.

The building’s new name will be unveiled during a ceremony at 10 a.m. in front of the Police Department at 1001 Idlewild Ave.

Asdot was an Army veteran and graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute who joined the Green Cove Springs Police Department in 2002. He was appointed acting chief in April 2017 after his predecessor, former Chief Robert Musco, resigned following a racial discrimination complaint, the city manager said.

Chief Derek Asdot.

Musco had resigned in late February 2017 rather than face removal from command, city officials said at the time. The resignation followed a review of a racial discrimination complaint against Musco that showed he had made racially offensive remarks toward a subordinate, then tried to stop an investigation into the complaint, city officials said.

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Asdot was named permanent chief in October of 2017. He is the first Green Cove Springs Police law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty.

Elvis John Guzman was named Green Cove Spring’s current police chief just over a year ago, after serving as the department’s acting chief after 18 years on the force.