Dept. of Correction captain dies on Rikers Island after suffering medical emergency

A New York City Department of Correction captain died while on duty after suffering a medical emergency on Rikers Island, officials said Friday.

Captain Keisha Nicks, a 22-year DOC veteran, was rushed to Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital after falling ill at the George Motchan Detention Center around 8:20 p.m. Thursday, according to a DOC spokesman.

The department announced her death on X Friday. The specific cause was not given.

“The hearts of The Boldest are broken with the loss of our beloved Captain Keisha Nicks,” DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards said in a statement posted on X. “We mourn her loss. We honor her service and legacy. And we miss her greatly.”

Capt. Nicks, 53, most recently served in the Correction Assistance Response for Employees (C.A.R.E.) unit, where she supported her uniformed and civilian colleagues, Richards said.

“When staff suffered injuries on the job, she was there. If they struggled with trauma, she was the rock they could lean on,” Richards said. “It was a role she was well-suited for, having been a reliable officer, friend and steadfast member of The Boldest Family from her first day on the job.”

Mayor Mamdani said he was “heartbroken” by Nicks’ death in a statement on X.

“For more than two decades, Captain Nicks served our city, and through the C.A.R.E. Unit, she dedicated herself to providing emotional support to her fellow members of DOC as they navigated some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Mamdani said. “She was known throughout the Department of Correction for her kindness, warmth, and deep commitment to her colleagues.”

The Correction veteran’s death sparked an outpouring of grief from well-wishers on social media.

“One of the most fair supervisors I’ve ever worked with. Very sweet demeanor,” Glenn Blanco wrote on Facebook. “The type of supervisor if asked you to do something that was favorable, you’d do it without question, because of who was asking. RIP!”

“I can’t stop crying. My heart is torn in a million pieces. I love you Cpt. Nicks,” Timothy Fries wrote on Facebook. “She was the most caring and loving person I met in DOC. I used to tease her. The Department got it right when they put you in The Care Unit because you truly care for everyone.”

The George Motchan Detention Center closed in 2018 and is no longer used to house inmates, according to the DOC website. It is currently used as an annex for the DOC Training Academy and a wellness center for Correction staff.