Holly MatkinPitt County, NC – Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Detention Officer Alton Davis died unexpectedly on March 17, according to his department.
The PCSO announced the 41-year-old detention officer’s sudden passing in a Facebook post later the same day.
“The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office is struggling after the unexpected loss of a well loved and respected member of our family this morning,” the post read. “Sheriff Paula Dance and all the men and women of the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office would like to send our prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Detention Officer Alton Davis.”
His exact cause of death was not released.
Detention Officer Davis served the PCSO for 16 years.
“He never faltered. He never failed,” PCSO Detention Services Chief Jeff Phillips said of the fallen detention officer during an interview with WITN. “He represented this state and particularly Pitt County and the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office extremely well.”
Chief Phillips said Detention Officer Davis was dedicated to his family, as well we to his PCSO family.
Fellow detention center coworker Angela Stocks said in a memorial tribute that Detention Officer Davis was both a “mentor and friend” to her.
“All of us who were fortunate enough to know him and count him as our brother mourn the loss of such a kind, caring, funny man,” Stocks wrote. “I wish his family peace and love as they navigate their devastating loss.”
The PCSO said the veteran detention officer “served the citizens of Pitt County with excellence and with the greatest of integrity and empathy.”
“Thank you for your service,” the agency’s post read. “You will never be forgotten.”
Flags at the Pitt County Detention Center and the Pitt County Courthouse were lowered to half staff in honor of Detention Officer Davis, WITN reported.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, according to his obituary.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officer Alton Davis, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
