Of the 266 police officers who died in the line of duty in 2020 across the United States, more than half died of COVID-19, according to new data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (PDF) (NLEOMF).
More police officers have died from Covid-19 than all other causes COMBINED for 2020 and 2021
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A professor at Case Western Reserve University is bringing some awareness to the disturbing trend.
Mark Singer, the Leonard W. Mayo Professor in Family and Child Welfare at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, also discussed some possible solutions during his recent lecture in Cleveland.
“COVID-19 is absolutely devastating police departments around the country,” said Singer, also deputy director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at the Mandel School. “I’m certain there are local departments that have been ravaged by this disease, as well as our hospitals’ staff, firemen and EMS. We need to do everything we can to promote healthy, safe first responders.”
The data does not include how many police officers were forced to miss work days because of COVID-19. However, the NLEOMF report noted that 145 police officers nationally died from complications related to the novel coronavirus. The organization verifies each reported death, according to its website.
COVID-19-related fatalities were the single highest cause of officer line-of-duty deaths in 2020.
“By far,” Singer said. “It’s not even close.”
The data—which includes federal, state, military, tribal and local law enforcement officers—highlighted an increase in fatalities by 96% from the 135 officers killed during the same 12-month period in 2019.
Despite the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases within law enforcement ranks, police officers and departments have largely avoided the vaccine. There are currently no statistics showing the national vaccination rate for law enforcement officers; however, individual police and fire departments across the country show vaccination rates far below the national rate of 74% of adults who have had at least one dose.
Singer noted that, in typical years, the causes of death for police officers are varied, ranging from automobile crashes and heart attacks to gun violence and other physical violence. He said there are several key factors why COVID-19 is the current leading cause of police officer deaths.
“For starters, there’s no social distancing when you’re a police officer,” he said. “We know that this virus is the most contagious in tight quarters. Then you add in that these officers often work in enclosed environments.”
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 132 members of law enforcement agencies are known to have died of COVID-19 in 2021. In Florida alone last month, six people affiliated with law enforcement died over a 10-day period.
According to multiple deputies inside the organization who did not want to be identified, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has reportedly discouraged his deputies from getting the vaccine. On August 23rd, highly respected Brevard County Sheriff Deputy, and former United States Marine Harry Cieszynski passed away from a fight with Covid-19. The very same day of his deputy’s passing, Sheriff Ivey held a press conference fighting against Brevard’s Chief Judge to require masks be worn in all Brevard County Courthouses to help fight the spread of the virus. Deputy Cieszynski worked in the very same courthouses.
Florida is 2nd in line-of-duty fatalities for law enforcement officers with Texas being #1.
Solutions
Singer suggested police officers should be moved to the front of the line for vaccinations. Increased personal protective equipment (PPE) would also help, he said.
“These first responders have to deal with this extra worry, in what’s already a tension-filled job,” said Singer, who was recognized for his role with the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland in 2018 at the grand opening of the Five Communities exhibit at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.
He also touted the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act of 2020 as a success, which guarantees law enforcement officers and their survivors federal benefits if an officer is killed or disabled by COVID-19.
“I think it’s important to recognize some of the unique dangers that police officers are facing,” Singer said. “They want to come home from work from a dangerous job and be safe.”
The following law enforcement officers died as a result of contracting the virus in the line of duty.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California
Alamo Colleges Police Department, Texas
Alamo Police Department, Georgia
Alpharetta Police Department, Georgia
Ambridge Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana
Athens-Clarke County Probation Services, Georgia
Austin Police Department, Texas
Bainbridge Island Police Department, Washington
Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office, Alabama
Baton Rouge Police Department, Louisiana
Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas
Bay City Police Department, Texas
Bedminster Township Police Department, New Jersey
Beeville Police Department, Texas
Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Bernice Police Department, Oklahoma
Berry College Police Department, Georgia
Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, Texas
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Bloomingdale Police Department, New Jersey
Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
Branch County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan
Brazoria County Constable’s Office – Precinct 1, Texas
Breathitt County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky
Brookhaven Police Department, Mississippi
Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation, Pennsylvania
Burt County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska
Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
- Corrections Officer Jose Alfredo Diramos “Joe” Kates
- Corrections Officer Daniel Lopez Mendoza, III
- Sergeant Gilbert Polanco
California Department of Developmental Services – Office of Protective Services, California
Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Chandler Police Department, Arizona
Charlestown Police Department, Indiana
Chicago Police Department, Illinois
- Police Officer Marco DiFranco
- Sergeant Clifford Willie Martin, Sr.
- Police Officer Titus Theopsy Moore
- Police Officer Ronald Newman
Church Point Police Department, Louisiana
Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Clinton Township Police Department, Michigan
Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina
Collierville Police Department, Tennessee
Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Columbia Police Department, South Carolina
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Department of Corrections, Illinois
- Correctional Officer Antoine Pierre Jones
- Correctional Officer Jose Pedro Marquez
- Correctional Officer Sheila Janelle Rivera
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Department of Court Services, Illinois
Coral Springs Police Department, Florida
Corinth Police Department, Texas
Corpus Christi International Airport Department of Public Safety, Texas
Corpus Christi Police Department, Texas
Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Dallas Police Department, Texas
Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama
Delaware County Bureau of Park Police and Fire Safety, Pennsylvania
Denton County Constable’s Office – Precinct 2, Texas
Denver City Police Department, Texas
Denver Sheriff’s Department, Colorado
Detroit Police Department, Michigan
DeWitt Township Police Department, Michigan
District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, District of Columbia
Dumas Police Department, Texas
Durham County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Edwards Police Department, Mississippi
Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
El Centro Police Department, California
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado
Everman Police Department, Texas
Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia
First City Court of New Orleans Constable’s Office, Louisiana
Florida Department of Corrections, Florida
Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, Florida
Florida Highway Patrol, Florida
Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Florida
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California
Fresno Police Department, California
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Garden Grove Police Department, California
Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia
- Sergeant Grace A. Bellamy
- Deputy Warden Roger Joe Hodge, Sr.
- Corrections Officer Onochie Sunday Ikedionwu
- Special Agent Wayne Douglas Snyder
Georgia Institute of Technology Police Department, Georgia
Glen Ridge Police Department, New Jersey
Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Gove County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas
Grand River Dam Authority Police Department, Oklahoma
Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Washington
Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri
Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam
Guam Department of Corrections, Guam
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio
Hammond Police Department, Indiana
Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Virginia
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Texas
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
- Deputy Sheriff Alexander Gwosdz
- Deputy Sheriff Juan Menchaca
- Detention Officer Robert Perez
- Sergeant Raymond John Scholwinski
- Deputy Sheriff Johnny Ramos Tunches
- Deputy Sheriff Shaun Waters
Hays County Constable’s Office – Precinct 2, Texas
Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Henderson County Constable’s Office – Precinct 1, Texas
Henry County Police Department, Georgia
Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Highland Village Police Department, Texas
Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi
Hollywood Police Department, Florida
Horry County Police Department, South Carolina
Houston Police Department, Texas
Independence Police Department, Missouri
Iowa Department of Corrections, Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa
Jacksonville Beach Police Department, Florida
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana
Kansas Department of Corrections, Kansas
- Corrections Supervisor 1 Olufela A. “Fella” Adebiyi
- Unit Team Supervisor Gabe Morales
- Corrections Supervisor 1 George “Bernie” Robare
Kennett Police Department, Missouri
Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee
Lake City Police Department, Georgia
Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Lanier Technical College Police Department, Georgia
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada
Lauderhill Police Department, Florida
Lebanon Police Department, Missouri
Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Lee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi
Louisiana Department of Corrections, Louisiana
Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky
McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma
McLennan Community College Police Department, Texas
McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Melrose Park Police Department, Illinois
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
Miami Beach Police Department, Florida
Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Florida
Middleburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
Milford Police Department, Texas
Mission Police Department, Texas
Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri
- Correctional Officer Dennis Bennett
- Correctional Officer John Michael Bowe
- Lieutenant Leslie Lentz
- Sergeant Sonny Lee Orbin
- Correctional Officer Robert Lewis Welch, III
- Correctional Officer Richard Allen Wright
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Moore County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police
New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey
New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana
- Reserve Captain Raymond Andrew Boseman
- Senior Police Officer Mark Albert Hall, Sr.
- Senior Police Officer Sharon M. Williams
New York City Police Department, New York
- Detective Raymond C. Abear
- Detective Robert A. Cardona
- Detective Cedric G. Dixon
- Detective Christopher B. McDonnell
- Chief of Transportation William T. Morris
- Police Officer Eric K. Murray
- Detective Jack V. Polimeni
- Detective Jeffrey Allen Scalf
Newark Police Department, New Jersey
- Detective Irving Gene Callender, III
- Sergeant Michael W. Clegg
- Police Officer Michael Alexander Conners
- Police Officer Hector Moya
- Detective Marcus Thomas
North Carolina Department of Public Safety – Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, North Carolina
- Correctional Sergeant II Michael R. Flagg
- Correctional Lieutenant III Anthony Lynn Hardie
- Correctional Officer III Charles Warren Harris, Jr.
- Associate Warden III Julian Arsenio Priest
- Correctional Officer III Thomas Daniel Roberts, Jr.
- Correctional Officer II Allen Bruce Trivett
North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
North Little Rock Police Department, Arkansas
Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Norton Police Department, Massachusetts
Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
Old Bridge Township Police Department, New Jersey
Oneida Indian Nation Police Department, Tribal Police
Orange Beach Police Department, Alabama
Owasso Police Department, Oklahoma
Pahrump Justice Court, Nevada
Palm Bay Police Department, Florida
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
- Deputy Sheriff Angela Dinece Chavers
- Sergeant Jose Antonio Diaz-Ayala
- Deputy Sheriff Maurice Che’valier Ford
- Deputy Sheriff Carlos Antonio Hernandez
- Deputy Sheriff Jacinto R. Navarro, Jr.
Panhandle Police Department, Texas
Paris Police Department, Texas
Pasadena Police Department, Texas
Paterson Police Department, New Jersey
Patton State Hospital Police Department, California
Pearl River Police Department, Louisiana
Pelham Police Department, Alabama
Perryton Police Department, Texas
Phenix City Police Department, Alabama
Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania
- Police Officer Tab T. Ali
- Captain Frank Rocco Milillo, Sr.
- Sergeant Jose Manuel Novoa
- Captain James Walker, Jr.
- Sergeant Joseph M. Youse
Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi
Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Port of Galveston Police Department, Texas
Port Wentworth Police Department, Georgia
Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
- Sergeant José Antonio García-Vázquez
- Agent Miguel Angel Martínez-Ortiz
- Agent Juan R. Ramírez-Padilla
- Lieutenant Juan Rafael Rivera-Padua
- Sergeant Mayra Mercedes Rodríguez-Burgado
- First Lieutenant Roberto Rodríguez-Hernández
- Agent Juan Rosado-López
Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Rhode Island
Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Richmond Police Department, California
Ridgeville Police Department, South Carolina
Riverside County Probation Department, California
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California
Robertsdale Police Department, Alabama
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Rockwall Police Department, Texas
Rutland Police Department, Massachusetts
Sands Point Police Department, New York
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Santa Rosa Police Department, California
Seagoville Police Department, Texas
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee
- Captain Anthony Terrance Jackson, Sr.
- Deputy Sheriff Ray W. McCrary, Jr.
- Correctional Deputy Jeremy Devaughn Smith
- Corrections Deputy Lakiesha Tucker
Sheridan Police Department, Arkansas
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, California
South Houston Police Department, Texas
St. George Police Department, Utah
St. Petersburg Police Department, Florida
Suffolk County Police Department, New York
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, New York
Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee
Sunray Police Department, Texas
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
- Corporal Charles Edward Holt, III
- Security Control Specialist Jerry William Jones
- Lieutenant Craig Lavorrowous King
Texarkana Police Department, Texas
Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
- Corrections Officer III Tracey Adams
- Corrections Officer V Timothy Beggs
- Corrections Officer V Jesse Wayne Bolton
- Corrections Officer IV Lebouath A. Boua
- Corrections Officer Coy Dale Coffman, Jr.
- Corrections Officer V James David Coleman
- Corrections Officer V Jerry Esparza
- Corrections Officer V Herbert James Garcia
- Corrections Officer Jimmy Garcia
- Corrections Officer V Jonathon Keith Goodman
- Corrections Officer Kenneth Wayne Harbin
- Corrections Officer Luis Arturo Hernandez, Sr.
- Corrections Officer V Phillip Holbert
- Corrections Officer IV Vicky James
- Corrections Officer IV Alfred Jimenez
- Corrections Officer V Eric Trivonte Johnson
- Corrections Officer V Elizabeth Jones
- Corrections Officer V Joe Landin
- Corrections Officer IV Ruben Martinez
- Corrections Officer V Maria Luisa Mendez
- Corrections Officer IV Tawiwo Obele
- Corrections Officer V Thomas Adedayo Ogungbire
- Correctional Officer Donald Eugene Parker
- Corrections Officer IV Jackson Pongay
- Lieutenant Treva Preston
- Corrections Officer Rodrick L. Rodgers
- Sergeant Randall Sims
- Corrections Officer IV Harold Paul “Skip” Smith, Sr.
- Corrections Officer V James Willard Weston, Jr.
- Corrections Officer IV Kelvin D. Wilcher
Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Parole Division, Texas
- Parole Officer I Brenda Lee LaFaso
- Parole Officer IV Joseph William Lange
- Parole Officer Troy K. Morin
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, Texas
Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Law Enforcement Division, Texas
Travis County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Texas
Troy Police Department, New York
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, California
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma
Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, New York
Union City Police Department, New Jersey
Union County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina
United States Department of Defense – Fort Sill Police Department, U.S. Government
United States Department of Defense – Naval District Washington Police Department, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Government
- Officer Troy Allen Adkins
- Officer Andrew Raymond Bouchard
- Officer Carlo Jay Cayabyab
- Officer Yokemia L. Conyers
- Officer Roel De La Fuente
- Officer Ruben Facio
- Director of Field Operations Beverly Good
- Officer Genaro Guerrero
- Officer Domingo Jasso, III
- Officer Richard G. McCoy
- Officer Carlos Mendoza
- Officer Alfonso H. Murrieta
- Officer Omar E. Palmer
- Officer Monica J. Riola
- Officer Richard Rios
- Officer Crispin San Juan San Jose
- Officer Jose Antonio Santana
- Officer Lucas G. Saucedo, Jr.
- Officer Byron Don Shields
- Officer Cesar Dangaran Sibonga
- Officer Ching Kok “CK” Yan
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – Office of Professional Responsibility, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
- Border Patrol Agent Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano
- Border Patrol Agent Agustin Aguilar, Jr.
- Border Patrol Agent Marco Antonio Gonzales
- Border Patrol Agent Chad E. McBroom
- Border Patrol Agent Enrique J. Rositas, Jr.
- Border Patrol Agent Christopher Shane Simpkins
- Border Patrol Agent Juan Manuel Urrutia
- Border Patrol Agent Freddie Vasquez
- Border Patrol Agent Ricardo Zarate
United States Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Service, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Transportation Security Administration – Federal Air Marshal Service, U.S. Government
United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government
- Special Deputy Marshal Hugh Boyd Bennett
- Special Deputy Marshal Brian Leath Magee
- Special Deputy Marshal Anthony Charles McGrew
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, U.S. Government
University of Alabama at Birmingham Police Department, Alabama
Vidalia Police Department, Louisiana
Walker County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Texas
Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington
- Correctional Officer David A. Christensen
- Correctional Officer Gabriel Forrest
- Correctional Officer Darryl “Scout” Goodrich, Jr.
- Correctional Officer Berisford Anthony Morse
Waycross Police Department, Georgia
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan
West Police Department, Texas
Wharton County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Wichita Police Department, Kansas
Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Yakima County Department of Corrections, Washington
Yonkers Police Department, New York