Helen Police officer Heidi Groce – Photo Helen PD
By: Hadley Cottingham- Now Habersaham
(Helen)- The City of Helen and many Northeast Georgians are mourning the loss of an adored community leader, officer, and friend. Officer Heidi J. Groce of the City of Helen Police Department passed away Friday, Aug. 27 due to COVID-19 related complications.
Officer Groce served with the Helen Police Department for 17 years preceding her death as a communications officer, administrative assistant, terminal agency coordinator (TAC) officer, IT officer, and an instrumental part of the department’s community outreach programs.
Helen Police Cheif Brian Stephens remembers Groce as not only a wonderful employee but a dear friend.
“She was a one-of-a-kind person, very caring, [she] worked well with the community,” Stephens tells Now Habersham. “I don’t believe I’ve ever run into anybody who’s had anything negative to say about Heidi over my tenure. Being with her– she was just fantastic.”
Groce, who turned 49 in July, had been in the intensive care unit at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center for several weeks battling COVID-19 pneumonia before she passed on Friday.
In her time with the police department, she took charge of nearly all the community outreach programs the department facilitated, from Christmas shopping, stocking stuffing and Halloween events to providing holiday meals to families and seniors in need. Outside of work, she served as a Boy Scout troop leader and adored community leader.
Even after her death, she’s still finding ways to give back. In lieu of flowers, Groce’s family has asked for donations to be made to the Boy Scouts of America Currahee District or to the Helen Police Department Community Fund.
“That’s just part of who Heidi was,” Stephens said. “She always thought about other people and was really active in the community.”
Services for Groce will be held on Thursday, September 9th at 2 p.m with visitation at 1 p.m. at Barrett Funeral Home in Cleveland. A Celebration of Life barbeque will take place on Sunday the 12 at 3 p.m. in Helen at the pavilion on Edelweiss Strasse.
