Holly MatkinSpalding County, GA – Spalding County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Deputy II Jamie Reynolds died in the line of duty on July 31 when a massive pine tree fell on his patrol vehicle.
Deputy Reynolds was traveling eastbound on Georgia Highway 16 at approximately 5:30 a.m. when a large pine tree fell onto his patrol car just east of Shoal Creek Road, SCSO Public Information Officer Major Dwayne Jones said in a press release later in the day.
Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix described the incident as a “freak accident,” WXIA reported.
“The tree crushed the passenger compartment of the vehicle, killing Deputy Reynolds instantly,” Sheriff Dix said in the agency’s press release.
He and other law enforcement officials notified the veteran deputy’s wife and children of his death at their home shortly after the coroner pronounced Deputy Reynolds dead at the scene.
“The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office will be working with Jamie’s family, supporting them, and walking through this with them over the next few days,” the sheriff said. “We ask that you keep Jamie’s family and his extended Spalding County Sheriff’s Office family in your prayers in the coming days as well.”
Deputy Reynolds began his law enforcement career in 1995.
“He had a lot of experience, he had been a police chief and a lot of people sought him for counsel,” Sheriff Dix told WXIA.
He joined the SCSO in January of 2021, and was most recently assigned to the agency’s Office of Professional Standards, where he helped handle State Certification, the department said.
Deputy Reynolds also covered weekend shifts at the county’s jail facility.
“He was a great guy who loved his family, had a deep faith, worked hard, and always brought you solutions, not problems,” Sheriff Dix said.
“He was that guy everybody loved, everybody cared about,” the sheriff told WXIA. “He always took time to talk to people here and across the community. He will leave a hole here that just can’t be filled.”
Deputy Reynolds leaves behind his wife and two stepchildren.
“Jamie was part of our family here, and we’re going to do everything we can to honor him and help them at the same time,” the sheriff told WXIA.
GBI employees line up outside of HQ to view the police escort for fallen Spalding Co Sheriff's Deputy Jamie Reynolds leaving GBI Headquarters today.
Thank you Deputy Reynolds for dedicating your life to service. We will keep your family, both blood & blue, in our prayers. ⚫️🔵⚫️ pic.twitter.com/yXYcoFTdIJ
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) August 1, 2022
RIP. Georgia Deputy Sheriff II Jamie Reynolds was killed when a large pine tree fell on his patrol car. #rip #hero #eow #DeputySheriffIIJamieReynolds #SpaldingCountySheriffsOffice #lawenforcement #thinblueline #bluelivesmatter #backtheblue #police #protectingtheblue pic.twitter.com/G4mhutkoPk
— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) August 1, 2022
Honoring Spalding County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff II Jamie Reynolds, died July 31, 2022, when the patrol vehicle he was driving was hit by a falling pine tree. Honor him so he is not forgotten. pic.twitter.com/KuXWtjvGW1
— Steve Wightman (@stevewightman1) August 1, 2022
RIP: Spaulding County Deputy Jamie Reynolds killed after a large pine tree falls on his patrol unit on #Georgia Highway 16.@CBS46 pic.twitter.com/8QapTGIi53
— shon gables (@shongables) August 1, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Deputy II Jamie Reynolds, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
