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Keith DeCarlo Smith
Incident
Correctional Officer Keith Smith died from complications of an injury sustained on October 9th, 2012, at the Harnett Correctional Institution.
He was pushing a food service cart through the door of the Restrictive Housing Unit when the cart's wheels became jammed. The cart overturned, causing Officer Smith to suffer a deep laceration on his leg. His medical condition worsened over the coming weeks and he was unable to return to work. He was taken to the Womack Army Hospital where he died from complications of the original injury.
Officer Smith was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the North Carolina Division of Adult Correction for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Smith gave the North Carolina Department of Public Safety 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Keith DeCarlo Smith served in the U.S. Army (1971â1974) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has lost 31 officers; 6 of them lost to accidents.
Keith is one of 205 officers lost to accidents in NC, 30.9% of the 664 remembered there.
Keith is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Keith is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2012, 2 officers at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2012, 4 officers in NC were lost to accidents, the 11th heaviest of 90 years on record. The heaviest was 2018, with 7.
In 2012, 51 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 94th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2012, 55 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 95th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Keith was 59. Of the 6 lost to accidents at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice whose age is recorded, half were between 26.5 and 39.3; the middle age was 32.5. Keith had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 4.4 years.
Keith was 59. Of the 194 lost to accidents in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 35. Keith had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 5.4 years.
Keith was 59. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Keith had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Keith was 59. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Keith had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 16.7% of these deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; October holds the most, 16.7%. Saturdays: 16.7%.
December holds 10.2% of these deaths in NC; September holds the most, 12.7%. Saturdays: 20%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 19.4% of all 31 deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, the 3rd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.9% of all 664 deaths in NC, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has 31 officers remembered here, Keith among them.
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J. C. Freeman Sep 18, 1915
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Thomas Peter Sale Jan 28, 1916
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A. D. Spivey Aug 30, 1928
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Ernest B. Hux Aug 30, 1934
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James S. Chesser Dec 28, 1939
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H. Carl Keith May 25, 1945
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George S. Bowman Mar 4, 1947
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Kermit Dale Jackson Jul 21, 1960
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Earl Cranston Strickland Jun 2, 1969
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Randall Clayton Cupp
Jun 5, 1986
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Leslie John Besci Jun 28, 1992
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David Michael Anthony
Oct 27, 1998
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Shannon Cuddington Smith
Nov 9, 1999
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Edward Ashley Pounds
Jan 9, 2010
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William Lee Wright
Apr 11, 2012
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Keith DeCarlo Smith
Dec 1, 2012
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Meggan Lee Callahan
Apr 26, 2017
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Justin James Smith
Oct 12, 2017
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Veronica Skinner Darden
Oct 12, 2017
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Wendy Letitia Shannon
Oct 30, 2017
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Allen Bruce Trivett
Oct 10, 2020
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Michael Robert Flagg
Oct 26, 2020
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Charles Warren Harris, Jr.
Oct 28, 2020
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Thomas Daniel Roberts, Jr.
Nov 16, 2020
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Joseph Lloyd Greinke
Nov 20, 2020
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Christopher Eugene Sorrenti
Nov 30, 2020
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Julian Arsenio Priest, III
Dec 24, 2020
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Anthony Lynn Hardie
Feb 6, 2021
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Ledell Graham
Aug 30, 2021
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Dennis Eugene Boykin
Oct 12, 2021
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Helen Mae Smith
Feb 3, 2022
Where
Military Service
Keith DeCarlo Smith served in the U.S. Army (1971–1974) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Keith DeCarlo Smith’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
