Surry County Sheriffs Office

Please join us in praying for the Surry County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center family. Today, we suffered the loss of one of our own, Detention Officer Thomas James Smith III.

Please keep his family, friends, fellow shift members, and co-workers in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We ask for God’s comfort, strength, and peace to surround all those affected by this tragic loss.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Rest easy, my friend. Your service, dedication, and friendship will not be forgotten. We will take it from here.

As we observe National Police Week (May 10th - 16th, 2026), Sheriff Steve C. Hiatt and the Surry County Sheriff's Office invite our community to pause and honor those in uniform. We deeply appreciate the dedication of our deputies who protect Surry County, and we hold in our hearts the memory of the brave officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

This week, the Surry County Sheriff’s Office proudly recognizes and honors the dedicated men and women who serve as our Public Safety Telecommunicators—the calm voices in the chaos, the unseen first responders behind every emergency call.

Sheriff Steve C. Hiatt and the entire Sheriff’s Office want to extend our deepest gratitude to these professionals who work tirelessly, day and night, to ensure the safety of our community. Whether dispatching deputies, providing life-saving instructions, or offering reassurance in someone’s most difficult moments, their commitment never goes unnoticed.

Their work requires strength, compassion, quick thinking, and unwavering dedication—and we are incredibly thankful for each of them.

Please join us in thanking our telecommunicators for their service this week and every week.