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Deputy dies while out for a jog, Georgia cops say. He was a community ‘hero’

Deputy Gregory Smith joined the Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office in 2008 and served for 15 years.
Deputy Gregory Smith joined the Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office in 2008 and served for 15 years.

A Georgia sheriff’s office is mourning after losing one of its own.

Cobb County Sheriff’s deputy Gregory Scott Smith, 58, died on Feb. 26 after he was found unresponsive when he went out for a jog, the sheriff’s office announced in a Facebook post.

The sheriff’s office thanked the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and the Paulding County Fire and Rescue for trying to save Smith’s life, but they were unsuccessful.

Smith joined the Cobb County office in 2008 and served for 15 years.

Community members and those who knew Smith shared their condolences and memories on the sheriff’s office’s post.

“Deputy Greg Smith was part of our security detail where I used to work,” Alice Burkett wrote. “I’ll always remember Greg and his dedication to his family and his work.”

“Greg was a chaplain at Truckstop Ministries, Inc back in the day and welcomed this trucker, encouraging me in one of the roughest times in my life,” Patrick Dean III wrote. “He will be truly missed.”

“Sending prayers ... to our hero and his family,” Claire Cox wrote.

Cobb County colleagues also shared messages of support.

“G. Smith was a great man with a kind spirit and a welcoming smile a great man to work with you will be truly missed,” Denise Frazier wrote in a comment.

“Some people truly leave an imprint on our hearts. ‘Smitty’ was truly one of those … a man of few words, but I’ll never forget the smile, work ethics & humbleness,” Virtuous Na’Cole Worthy wrote.

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This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Deputy dies while out for a jog, Georgia cops say. He was a community ‘hero’."

Irene Wright
McClatchy DC
Irene Wright is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter. She earned a B.A. in ecology and an M.A. in health and medical journalism from the University of Georgia and is now based in Atlanta. Irene previously worked as a business reporter at The Dallas Morning News.
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