Former DeKalb police officer killed in fall from roof

DeKALB – A DeKalb man who served 24 years as a city police officer fell off a two-story roof and died while working on a rental property Thursday, officials confirmed Friday.

Nick Harold, 63, of DeKalb was working on the roof of a rental property he owned at 119 S. Eighth St. about 6:50 p.m. Thursday when the fatal accident occurred. The property was vacant at the time, DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said.

“And he just fell off the roof, slipped and fell,” Miller said.

Miller said an autopsy was expected to be completed later Friday, but the death appears to be accidental and no foul play is suspected. He said Harold died of internal injuries he suffered from the fall.

Miller said Harold was pronounced dead at the scene and wasn’t taken to the hospital. He said Harold also was a former DeKalb police officer.

DeKalb Fire Chief Eric Hicks said the fire department responded to the call, but that the incident was still under investigation by DeKalb police, who could not be reached for comment Friday.

Sean Harold, 30, of DeKalb said he had just dropped off some roofing materials for his father when he got the call from his stepmother that his dad had fallen off the roof. He said he sped back to the house and had to park down the street because a responding fire department vehicle was involved in a crash with another car.

Sean Harold said he knew his father was dead when he saw the empty stretcher being wheeled back to the ambulance.

“I just knew by looking at him that he was dead,” Sean Harold said.

Nick Harold worked hard his entire life, building houses and working in law enforcement, Sean Harold said.

Between building houses and serving on the DeKalb Police Department for more than 20 years, Sean Harold said, his father worked hard his entire life and he thought that was what ultimately killed him.

“He was just constantly working,” Sean Harold said. “He couldn’t quit until the work was done.”