The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a retired deputy who was killed in the line of duty while working as a security officer in North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.
According to the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, a 911 call was received at around 11:30 a.m. on Friday September 27, regarding a truck that was observed in a river on Fulton Road. Witnesses told law enforcement that someone appeared to be inside the truck when it “went underwater.”
MCSO soon realized that one of its courthouse security officers, 75-year-old Jim Lau, had not returned from his lunch break. His truck also matched the description of the vehicle that had been spotted in the river.
That afternoon, a search effort was initiated by multiple emergency service agencies, which included an on-foot search, drone search, and swift-water rescue teams.
“Ultimately the search was put on hold when the sun began to set,” stated the sheriff’s office. Early in the morning on Saturday, September 28, a search was conducted in the area where the truck was last seen, and Lau’s body was soon recovered from the river.
The incident is currently under investigation, according to MCSO.
“Jim was very liked and respected within our department,” said the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post. “He was known to be a hard worker, dependable, and he jumped in wherever help was needed. His absence will truly be felt in our agency.”
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement following Lau’s death:
“(Jim Lau) was instrumental in establishing the crime scene program and taught hundreds of new deputies various crime scene skills.”
Lau served at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office from 1982 to 2005, where he worked in the Major Case and Crime Scene units.
VCSO concluded its statement by thanking Lau for his service. “May God bless your loved ones who mourn your loss. We send our deepest condolences.”