Inmates Call 911 When They See Officer Pass Out On Road: 'They Stood By And Stayed With Him'

Jan 09, 2019 by apost team

Inmates picking up trash from the roads in North Carolina showed remarkable concern for the officer overseeing their work efforts recently. Officer James Smith collapsed on the road while in charge of the inmates. Despite the best efforts of the group of inmates to save Smith, the veteran officer died later at the hospital.

Larry Guyton is the chief deputy of the Bladen County Sheriff's Department. Guyton says he was impressed with the decision made by the imprisoned men to stay at Smith's side. The men also sought aid for the fallen officer.

Smith was performing his duties as a roadside supervisor for the sheriff's office when he suffered a stroke. At the time, the veteran deputy was in charge of three inmates working in Elizabethtown.

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The inmates say they noticed Smith began to stumble while attempting to walk. The men rushed to his side to assure he did not fall. They then helped him to the ground. One of the inmate workers used the deputy's phone to call 911.

The inmates flagged down a passing motorist who they asked to make another call authorities. The three inmates then waited with deputy Smith for three minutes until law enforcement and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene.

Sadly, the 62-year-old deputy died a few days later. Smith was a Bladen County Sheriff's Deputy for two years before leaving the department to work for nearby Cumberland County. He worked as a Cumberland County sheriff's deputy for 15 years before returning as a part-time deputy to Bladen County a year ago.

Guyton explains Smith was well-liked by co-workers and inmates alike. He explains the inmates always treated Smith with kindness and respect. Guyton feels the efforts the inmates made to save the deputy had a lot to do with the respect they possessed for him.

Guyton pointed out that law enforcement personnel are not the most popular people in the country. He said the actions of the three inmates demonstrate that humanity is not lost because an individual ends up in jail. Guyton further asserts that all people in jail are not bad people. He says 'we' have all done things we are not proud of and the three young men in question accept the responsibility of their mistakes.

Were you surprised at the reaction of the inmates? Send this article to friends. It might cause them to change their views regarding forgiveness and redemption.