Putnam County officials continue to search for missing deputy

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — Officials are planning to work through the night to find a Putnam County deputy missing since she was ejected from a boat into the St. Johns River early Friday.

Smith was off-duty when she was on the river and was scheduled to return to work Friday.

“Our sister is missing and we’re doing everything we can to bring her home," said Captain Joseph Wells with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

The search was still classified as a search and rescue mission. Authorities said rainy weather would not be a hindrance to the search.

Wells said that Smith trains rookie deputies and serves as a mentor.

"She's made quite a name for herself,” he said. “She’s trained many of our young deputies and become a mentor to them."

Amy Gravitz said her husband was shot and killed by a neighbor in September. She said Smith was the first to respond and stayed in touch with the family afterwards.

“She takes her job and goes to the fullest that she can with it more than what she would have to, and I hope her kids know what an impact she made on my family,” said Gravitz.

Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:

• Man with 'Death to America' sign beaten
• Sheriff's deputy gets big surprise after pulling over his own wife
• Deputies: Bullet lodged in man's testicles after wife shoots him
• Brothers welcome babies at same exact minute on same day
• Woman says she was 'sleepwalking' when she broke into st. Augustine home

Continue to follow updates on Twitter.

Cox Media Group