NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Correction is mourning two veteran members whose deaths came one day apart, leaving the agency without a captain known for caring for colleagues and its longest-serving female correction officer.
Correction Officer Noreen O’Connor, a 44-year department veteran, died Aug. 12. Captain Keisha Nicks, who served the department for 22 years, died Aug. 13 after suffering a medical emergency while on duty, according to NYC DOC.
Both women were remembered for service that extended beyond their assigned responsibilities, whether helping employees through difficult moments or mentoring generations of correction officers.
Capt. Keisha Nicks remembered for supporting fellow DOC members
Nicks most recently served with the Correction Assistance Response for Employees Unit, known as C.A.R.E. The unit provides support to uniformed and civilian employees dealing with injuries, trauma and challenges in their personal and professional lives.
“The hearts of The Boldest are broken with the loss of our beloved Captain Keisha Nicks,” Commissioner Stanley Richards said in a department statement. “When staff suffered injuries on the job, she was there. If they struggled with trauma, she was the rock they could lean on.”
The memorial bunting has been installed outside of the #NYCDOC GMDC Wellness Center on #RikersIsland in remembrance of fallen hero Captain Keisha Nicks. The beloved 22-year member of service died in the line of duty on Aug. 13 after suffering a medical emergency.
— New York City Department of Correction (@CorrectionNYC) August 15, 2026
The GMDC… pic.twitter.com/ugvdqpnIdg
Retired Warden Richard Palmer shared an example of how seriously Nicks took that responsibility.
Palmer told Corrections1 that Nicks helped take a retired Emergency Service Unit captain to cancer treatments every day for six weeks.
“Captain Nicks was a special person who took her position to the next level,” Palmer said.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Nicks dedicated herself to helping DOC employees through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“She was known throughout the Department of Correction for her kindness, warmth, and deep commitment to her colleagues,” Mamdani said. “My heart is with Captain Nicks’ loved ones and the entire DOC community as they mourn this loss.”
With heavy hearts and deep respect, #NYCDOC members and many others gathered in solidarity today for the dignified transfer for fallen hero Captain Keisha Nicks. The 22-year Boldest veteran died in the line of duty on Aug. 13 after suffering a medical emergency.
— New York City Department of Correction (@CorrectionNYC) August 17, 2026
Captain Nicks,… pic.twitter.com/ag5ZjVVeX2
Officer Noreen O’Connor served NYC DOC for 44 years
O’Connor was the longest-serving woman correction officer in the department at the time of her death.
During her career, she worked at the Correctional Institution for Women, which was later renamed the George Motchan Detention Center, and with the Special Operations Division on Rikers Island.
Palmer had known O’Connor for approximately 40 years through the Emerald Society and frequently asked when she planned to retire. O’Connor, who Palmer said regularly worked 16-hour shifts, always gave him the same answer.
“She would always say soon,” Palmer recalled. “Sadly, never happened.”
The department said O’Connor spent decades mentoring other employees and teaching them what it meant to be part of “New York City’s Boldest.”
“Officer O’Connor’s kindness, professionalism, wisdom, dedication and love for helping others will continue to impact our agency and city for generations to come,” the department stated. “She will always be remembered and revered as a NYC DOC legend.”
