Hero Down: Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Ava ‘Tina’ Lucas Dies Unexpectedly

Savannah, GA – Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Corporal Ava “Tina” Lucas died unexpectedly on Aug. 28.

Cpl. Lucas was not on duty when she passed way, WJCL reported.

Her exact cause of death was not immediately released.

Cpl. Lucas joined the CCSO on Aug. 13, 2007, the department said in a Facebook post on Aug. 30.

She was promoted to the rank of corporal on Feb. 8, 2020.

Cpl. Lucas was chosen as the sheriff’s office’s Officer of the Month in June, WTOC reported.

“Her smile lit up a room,” Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher said in the agency’s post. “When she came to us asking for something, it was always for others, never for herself. She was very well liked and will be sorely missed.”

The CCSO has set up a memorial outside the department’s main office using the fallen corporal’s marked patrol vehicle.

The patrol unit was covered with photos and flowers last week, WTOC reported.

“It’s a hard one,” Sheriff Wilcher told the news outlet. “You know people who you work with day in and day out, she’s been here 15 years, people who work with her are going to miss her…She was a part of our family.”

Cpl. Lucas leaves behind her son, WTOC reported.

“Please keep Ava’s family, friends and the CCSO family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time,” Sheriff Wilcher said.

Cpl. Lucas was laid to rest on Sept. 3, according to her department.

Folks here at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office are lined up for the Cpl. Ava Lucas Memory Walk.

Cpl. Lucas passed away unexpectedly on Sunday after being admitted into the ICU. Sheriff Wilcher (pictured with Lucas) joins as many mourn her loss. pic.twitter.com/c1l0GIR9SP

— Mariah Congedo (@MCongedoTV) September 2, 2022

Remembering the Fallen: Friends and colleagues honor Chatham County Cpl. Ava Lucas with a ‘memory walk’ this morning. pic.twitter.com/9YnqdlOHi3

— Isabel Litterst FOX28 (@IsabelLitterst) September 2, 2022

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Ava “Tina” Lucas, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.