After 11 Deaths, Lawsuit, Jail Arrests, Travelers Drop North Carolina Sheriff's Liability Coverage

After several jail deaths, criminal charges against an employee and alleged sexual relations with inmates, the North Carolina Sheriff's Office has lost its Travelers liability insurance coverage.

The News & Observer and other media outlets reported this week that Travelers had informed Rockingham County's risk manager that the insurer would abandon the sheriff's office on July 1. County officials said they are now looking for new coverage, but expect premiums to rise significantly — if coverage allows. be found.

Travelers cited a number of problems, including the sheriff's failure to report actual or potential claims; criminal charges filed against an office worker; and allegations that a now-fired employee had relationships with inmates outside the prison, the newspaper reported.

The county was sued by the family of Kyle Kepley, who died by suicide in jail in 2022. The family accuses the jail of lacking proper supervision of at-risk inmates. Five inmates have committed suicide in the past three years and six others have died of drug overdoses, the news site noted.

A sheriff's captain was recently fired from his position and charged with assault and sexual assault on a female prisoner. Another police officer was fired after authorities discovered sexual relations with inmates.

The sheriff of Rockingham County is Sam Page, who recently ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of North Carolina.

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