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Francis Duon Hemilright
Incident
Patrolman Francis Hemilright died after suffering a heart attack as he responded to a large fight at an area bar.
Patrolman Hemilright and approximately 25 officers from neighboring agencies responded to a night club where approximately 200 people were involved in the fight. After checking the scene, Patrolman Hemilright was found slumped over in his cruiser. Officers from a neighboring agency attempted to revive him using a defibrillator the officers carry in their cruisers. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Patrolman Hemilright had been in law enforcement in the Outer Banks area for over 20 years.
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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Hemilright gave the Southern Shores Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Southern Shores community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hemilright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Francis Duon Hemilright served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Francis is the only officer of Southern Shores Police Department remembered here.
Francis is one of 33 officers lost to cardiac events in NC, 5% of the 664 remembered there.
Francis is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Francis is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer in NC was lost to cardiac events, the 5th heaviest of 29 years on record. The heaviest was 1967, with 2.
In 2000, 8 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 72nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2000, 8 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 72nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Francis was 62. Of the 33 lost to cardiac events in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 38 and 53; the middle age was 46. Francis had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Francis was 62. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Francis had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Francis was 62. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Francis had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
January holds 15.2% of these deaths in NC, more than any other month. Fridays: 21.2%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.8%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.8%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Southern Shores Police Department.
Cardiac deaths account for 5% of all 664 deaths in NC, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
Where
Military Service
Francis Duon Hemilright served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Francis Duon Hemilright’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
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