It was with heavy hearts that McDowell County sheriff's deputies carried on with their duties Thursday -- patrolling roads, interviewing suspects, serving papers, answering phones. They wore black bands across their badges and lowered the flag to half staff. They were in mourning over the loss of a colleague and friend.
Retired Capt. Victor Allen Hollifield, 50, of Mitchell County died Wednesday night of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to McDowell County Sheriff Dudley Greene.
"I served with Vic for 16 years," Greene stated. "I've never known a more competent or professional officer or had a truer friend. He was respected by law enforcement throughout this part of the state and his efforts, especially in combating drugs, had a bigger impact on the safety of this community than probably he even realized. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this difficult time. He will be missed."
Officers discovered Hollifield's body a short distance from his truck off Wild Acres Road in northern McDowell Wednesday night. McDowell County EMS paramedics tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Hollifield. Members of the Sheriff's Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the local medical examiner's office determined that he had shot himself with a .45-caliber handgun, said Greene.
Hollifield went to work for the McDowell County Sheriff's Office on May 18, 1989 and served as a general detective, a narcotics detective, a detective lieutenant, a lieutenant over the drug unit, a patrol captain and retired in the fall of 2010 as captain of the detective division.
"He was the bravest officer I ever worked with," said Chief Deputy Sam Arrowood of the Sheriff's Office.
"He was a great guy and a very good cop," stated Capt. Shanon Smith, who took over Hollifield's job when he retired. "He was a big influence to me, and he taught me a lot."
"I enjoyed the years we worked together," said Detective Lt. Dan Shook. "He served this county well for a lot of years. He was missed when he retired and he will be missed even more now. It's a solemn time for this department."
Hollifield was employed at the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement before coming to McDowell.
After his retirement, he spent a year in Afghanistan as a contracted law enforcement officer. He returned from overseas last fall. In November 2010, during his stint in Afghanistan, he suffered personal tragedy when his 30-year-old daughter died suddenly of natural causes.
Hollifield founded the local FOP lodge and was instrumental in the development of McDowell County Crimestoppers.
"Vic was always a leader in the law enforcement community," said Sgt. Josh Dowdle of the N.C. Highway Patrol, who is the current FOP president. "He was a mentor to me and so many others. I'm thankful for his leadership, which benefitted this community over and over."
"Vic was one of the most professional law enforcement officers I've ever had the privilege of working with," said Detective Lt. Chris Taylor of the Sheriff's Office, who serves as vice president of Crimestoppers. "He will be missed for his dedication to the community, to his friends and to his family."
Although no foul play is suspected in Hollifield's death, an investigation continues and his body is scheduled for autopsy today in Winston-Salem. Deputies in patrol cars with flashing lights will escort the body to Winston-Salem and back to Spruce Pine.
Copyright 2012 - The McDowell News, Marion, N.C.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
