We offer this tribute to honor our co-workers who died in the line of duty or due to injuries sustained in service to the North Carolina corrections system.

Assistant Superintendent J.C. Freeman, was killed in 1915 while supervising an inmate work crew building a bridge on the Mount Pleasant Road near Albemarle, North Carolina.

State Penitentiary Warden Thomas Peter Sale suffered a fatal heart attack in 1916 while completing paperwork after overseeing the execution of two inmates.

Officer A.D. Spivey of Caledonia Prison Farm was killed in 1928 during the escape of seven inmates.

Officer Ernest. B. Hux of Caledonia Prison Farm was accidently killed in 1934 during an attempted escape of five inmates.

Officer Andrew Lewis Ayscue was killed in 1935 due to accidental weapon discharge while supervising a road crew.

Superintendent H. Carl Keith was killed in 1945 during an escape attempt by nine inmates from the state prison camp in Yancey County.

Officer George S. Bowman, of the Eddyville Quarry Prison Camp, was killed during an attempted escape by three inmates in 1947.

Officer James S. Chesser of Central Prison was killed while working on death row in 1939.

Officer Kermit Dale Jackson of Alexander Correctional Center was killed in a road squad accident in 1960.

Officer Earl Cranston Strickland of Robeson Correctional Center was shot and killed by an escaping inmate in 1969.

Dental Assistant Jenette W. Fish of Triangle Correctional Center was killed in 1975 by an inmate.

Officer Randall C. Cupp of Alexander Correctional Center was killed in 1986 by a former inmate when he was called to a dispute near his home.

Officer William V. Lee, a probation unit supervisor, was killed in a traffic accident in 1989.

Officer Alan P. Kirk of Caledonia Correctional Institution was killed in an on-duty traffic accident in 1991.

Correctional Officer Leslie John Besci of Sandhills Youth Center was killed when two former juvenile inmates broke into his home in 1992.

William Joseph Davis, a truck driver for Central Engineering, was killed in a roadside accident in Raleigh in 1998 when he stopped to adjust the load on his trailer.

Officer David Michael Anthony of Iredell Correctional Center was killed in an accident in 1998 while supervising an inmate road squad along Interstate 77.

Probation/Parole Officer David Cortner was killed in on-duty traffic accident in 1999.

Officer Shannon Smith of Johnston Correctional Institution was hit and killed by a driver in 1999 while supervising an inmate road squad along U.S. 70.

Correctional Officer Jimmy Fisher of Rowan Correctional Center died in 2007, the result of an accidental poisoning.

Correctional Officer Edward Pounds of Neuse Correctional Institution died in 2010 after injuries sustained from an attack by an inmate months earlier.

Probation/Parole Officer Jeffrey Settle was killed in an on-duty traffic accident in 2011.

Correctional Officer Keith DeCarlo Smith died in 2012 due to an injury occurring while on duty.

Correctional Officer William Wright of Mountain View Correctional Institution died in 2012 after a fall from a ladder.

Sgt. Meggan Callahan of Bertie Correctional Institution was killed in 2017 by an inmate.

Correction Enterprises Manager Veronica Darden was killed in 2017 during an inmate escape attempt at Pasquotank Correctional Institution.

Correctional Officer Justin Smith of Pasquotank Correctional Institution was killed in 2017 during an inmate escape attempt.

Correctional Officer Wendy Shannon of Pasquotank Correctional Institution died in 2017 from injuries sustained during an inmate escape attempt.

Maintenance Mechanic Geoffrey Howe of Pasquotank Correctional Institution died in 2017 from injuries sustained during an inmate escape attempt.

Correctional Officer Travis Oates died in 2023 after suffering a medical emergency while working in the control tower at Sampson Correctional Institution.

Helen Mae Smith died in 2023 after an altercation with an inmate at Pasquotank Correctional Institution.

Central Engineering Supervisor Jeffrey McKay died in 2023 as a result of a shooting incident that happened after a traffic collision while on the job. 

Sgt. Crystal Melton of Bertie Correctional Institution died while on duty due to a medical emergency in 2023.

Task Force Officer William "Alden" Elliott of the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit was shot and killed while part of a team serving a warrant in Charlotte in 2024.

Task Force Officer Samuel Poloche of the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit was shot and killed while part of a team serving a warrant in Charlotte in 2024.