Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Micahel Godwin died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Detective Godwin had served with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office for over nine years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Detective Michael W. Godwin died on February 27, 2022 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 41.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 2 at New Hanover County Sheriff's Office.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his expecting wife, mother, father, two brothers, and nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-E40491DC- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Detective Godwin gave the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Castle Hayne community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Godwin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Michael W. Godwin is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 37 of 664 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 5.6% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael W. Godwin's cause is highlighted.
How Michael W. Godwin Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Michael W. Godwin is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from New Hanover County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
