ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (NCN News) – A Rocky Mount Police officer had died in an off-duty ATV accident.
Rocky Mount Police officer Michael Cotton has died in a off-duty ATV accident (photo courtesy Rocky Mount police)
According to social media post by the police department, Michael Cotton died in an off-duty ATV accident in the evening hours on June 10th, 2026.
He served in the United States Military and the Army Reserve for numerous years, while simultaneously serving the Rocky Mount community as a sworn law enforcement officer for 7 years. He had been a K9 officer since 2023.
Cotton’s first K9, FORREST, retired and was awarded to him by the city council, and is now a part of Officer Cotton’s immediate family.
Cotton had a milestone in his career when he became the agencies 1st African American K9 handler. In February 2026, he successfully completed the rigorous training program with his second K9, LEO, an Explosive Detection K9.