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| Alabama Corrections Officer Dies in Spinout Transporting Prisoner |
| By Anniston Star |
| Published: 12/26/2001 |
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Flags at the Calhoun County, Ala., Jail flew at half-staff recently as somber jailers mourned the death of one of their own. Correctional officer Timothy 'Todd' Williams, 21, of Anniston died on December 17 from severe head trauma after a one-car accident in Blount County, Alabama. This may be the first time an officer has died in the line of duty while working with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, said Sheriff Larry Amerson, who added that no one in the office could recall another instance. Mr. Williams and fellow correctional officer Michael Dobbins, 25, were transporting Everett Harris, 37, from the Limestone County Prison to Calhoun County when their patrol car spun out of control and hit a wall, Amerson said. State troopers report that the day's rain produced slippery conditions contributing to the accident. There is an ongoing investigation, however, and the primary cause of the accident won't be released until it is concluded, a Birmingham trooper said. Mr. Williams, who was a passenger and had worked part-time for the department since 1999, died at the scene. The driver, Dobbins, was treated and released from Carraway Methodist Medical Center, as was the inmate, hospital officials said. The correctional officers were transporting Harris to Calhoun County for failing to appear on a bad check charge, Amerson said. 'Correctional officers or jailers are the unsung heroes of law enforcement,' Amerson said, adding that their job is much needed but often frustrating, dangerous and unappreciated. And according to Amerson, these unsung heroes may not be treated the same when they die or are injured in the line of duty as other law enforcement officers. Amerson said federal and state laws provide survivor benefits to deputies and other arresting officers killed in the line of duty. He wasn't aware of any such benefit for correctional officers, and especially officers such as Mr. Williams, who are deemed part-time even though they work 40-hour weeks. |
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