By Sarah Sinning
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A corrections officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety died last week after responding to an offender incident; Officer Helen Mae Smith was 54.
According to the department, Smith was returning to her post following the incident in another part of the prison when she experienced medical distress and collapsed. She was transported to a local hospital, where she died a few hours later.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Smith’s family during this difficult time,” said Secretary of Public Safety Eddie Buffaloe, Jr. “She had a great reputation and was dedicated to her job; this is a huge loss for our DPS family.”
Smith served nearly three years at Pasquotank Correctional Institution in Elizabeth City, where she was hired on in April 2019.
“She was a terrific officer, very dedicated and committed,” said Pasquotank Warden Daniel Everett. “Our work family mourns with her family on her very tragic passing. This is a sad day for us all.”
Officer Smith is survived by her husband, two children, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren.