Two police officers died late last month when Helene flooded the mountains in North Carolina. This week, the North Carolina Justice Academy remembered them.
Capt. Michelle Quintero, 49, of Madison County, was a mother of two and a grandmother. She died on Friday, September 27, when she was caught in floods from a broken dam while Helene dumped more than two feet of rain on the mountains.
Deputy Charles James “Jim” Lau of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office died the next day when an overflowing river took his truck away. He was a father of five children and grandfather of three.
It was written on Facebook by the North Carolina Justice Academy, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the loved ones and colleagues.” There were also “End of Watch” photos for each deputy.
North Carolina officials said Friday morning that Lau and Quintero were two of the 95 people who died when Helene’s winds died down.
“Their hard work and service will be remembered.” As people in western North Carolina remember these and other deaths, please keep them in your thoughts, the Justice Academy wrote.
In the days before Helene hit, Quintero lived in Yancy County and drove to work in Madison County. On the way, a dam broke and she was swept away by the floods.
She knew when she took the oath of office that she might “have to give it all,” her brother, Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Coy Phillips, said.
“Everyone loved her, from the teens we house to the most violent inmate we had.” People liked her because they were nice to everyone. Phillips said, “She was fair to everyone.” “She took care of everyone, no matter who or what they were.”
The news broke Phillips’ heart: “She was my everything.”
The Asheville Citizen-Times said that Michelle Quintero’s husband, Isaac, works at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution and that her two children work at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The next day, Charles James “Jim” Lau of Macon County died while he was eating lunch at work as a security guard at the jail.
On September 28, just before noon, someone called the sheriff’s office to say that a truck was sinking in the Little Tennessee River and someone was stuck inside.
At about the same time, police noticed that Deputy Lau hadn’t come back from lunch, and their truck fit the description of the one in the river.
The search began that afternoon on foot and with drones, and several swift-water teams were sent to help. The search was put on hold at night, but Lau’s body was found soon after it started up again in the morning.
It was said in a statement by the sheriff’s office, “Jim was well liked and respected in our department.” “He was known to work hard, be reliable, and help out whenever it was needed.”
Lau’s death notice said that he had already retired from other full-time police jobs and was working part-time at the Macon County Courthouse.
He never missed a chance to help someone and was known for going the extra mile. Lau’s death notice said, “He was very careful with his work and appearance, and he always took pride in the way he carried himself.”
Lau was a master sergeant who used to work in the US Air Force. He also spent 23 years working for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
“Jim loved his job, but his family was the most important thing to him.” His tombstone said that being a “grandpa” was the best thing in his life.
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