COVID-19: Corrections deaths

Originally published December 2020 and will continue to be updated

As we near the end of 2020, it's important to take a moment to remember all of the correctional officers and staff members we have lost to COVID-19 complications. 

Below, is a compilation of the reports, by state, of U.S. corrections personnel who have died of coronavirus-related complications. For cities with multiple diagnoses, the links are ordered chronologically, with the top being the most recent.

It is our intent to maintain an accurate and up-to-date directory. If we have not included an officer, first please accept our apology and condolences. Second, please send us their name and a link to a news report, department press release or obituary so we can include them and link to additional information.

Lastly, with a COVID-19 vaccine now being distributed across the United States, correctional facilities are looking ahead to vaccinating staff members and incarcerated individuals – with the hope of reducing COVID-related infections and deaths. In the following year, we remain committed to reporting the latest news, as well as providing expert opinion on this ever-evolving situation. 

Note: These deaths have not been confirmed as line-of-duty deaths. Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder shared an update from the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program as to how COVID-19 deaths will be classified.

alabama

Wetumpka — Ala. prison employee dies from COVID-19

ARIZONA

Avondale — Ariz. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Eloy — Ariz. senior correctional officer dies from COVID-19

CALIFORNIA

Imperial County — Calif. prison mourns COVID-19 death of correctional officer

San Quentin — San Quentin prison sergeant dies from COVID-19

Chowchilla — Calif. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Chowchilla — Veteran Calif. CO dies from COVID-19

Delano — Calif. correctional officer dies after contracting COVID-19

Los Angeles — LAPD detention officer dies from COVID-19

Riverside County — 2nd Calif. prison employee dies from COVID-19

Riverside County — Calif. correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Colorado

Denver — Second Denver sheriff's deputy dies from COVID-19 in less than 2 weeks

Denver — LODD: Denver sheriff's deputy dies from COVID-19

FLORIDA

Miami-Dade County — Mourners grieve COVID-19 death of Miami-Dade CO who was father of 3

Miami-Dade County — Miami-Dade corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Okaloosa County — Fla. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Lake Butler — A 'golden-hearted young man': Another Fla. CO dies from COVID-19

Seminole County — Fla. correctional officer loses battle with COVID-19

Lake Butler — 3rd. Fla. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Gainesville — Another Fla. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Malone — Fla. CO, his wife die from COVID-19 one hour apart

Miami-Dade County — Miami-Dade corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Tavares — Fla. detention deputy dies after battle with COVID-19

GEORGIA

Atlanta — Atlanta federal prison employee dies from COVID-19

ILLINOIS

Cook County — 3rd CO at Chicago jail dies after being diagnosed with COVID-19

Cook County — CO at Chicago jail dies from COVID-19; 2nd CO's death under investigation

INDIANA

Indianapolis — Ind. correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Sullivan County — Ind. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

IOWA

Clarinda — Iowa correctional officer dies after coronavirus diagnosis

Mitchellville — 1st Iowa correctional officer dies from COVID-19

KANSAS

Topeka — Kan. correctional facility employee dies from COVID-19 complications

Lansing — Kan. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

LOUISANA

Baton Rouge — La. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Monroe — 2 COs at La. ICE jail die after contracting COVID-19

Gretna — Veteran La. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Avoyelles Parish — La. prison warden dies from COVID-19

Baton Rouge — La. prison staff member dies from COVID-19

MARYLAND

Baltimore — Union: Md. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Baltimore — Md. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

MICHIGAN

Lansing — Veteran Mich. CO, father of 4 dies of COVID-19

Adrian — Veteran Mich. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Detroit — Mich. DOC officer dies of COVID-19

Missouri

Vandalia — Missouri corrections officer lost to virus

Greene County — Mo. sheriff's office mourns loss of detention officer who died from COVID-19

Nebraska

Douglas County  — 'Her legacy is written in stone': Douglas County CO dies of COVID-19

NEW JERSEY

Cumberland County — Cumberland faces wrongful death action in CO's death from COVID-19

Hudson County — 2nd NJ county correctional police officer dies from COVID-19

Burlington County — 3rd NJ correctional police officer dies from COVID-19

Middlesex County — 2nd NJ correctional police officer dies from COVID-19

Hudson County — NJ correctional police officer dies from COVID-19

NEW YORK

New York City — NYC correctional officer dies from COVID-19

New York City — Rikers Island corrections officer dies from COVID-19

New York City — NYC corrections officer dies from COVID-19

New York City — NYC corrections investigator dies of coronavirus

North carolina

Butner — NC correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Durham — NC senior detention officer dies after battling COVID-19

OHIO

Cleveland — Second Cuyahoga County CO dies from COVID-19

Columbus — Gov. DeWine says local corrections officer died from COVID-19

Youngstown — Local corrections officer passes away after battle with COVID-19

Cleveland — 2 Ohio corrections officers die after testing positive for COVID-19

Cleveland — Veteran Ohio CO dies after contracting COVID-19

Columbus — 5th Ohio corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Mt. Sterling — Ohio CO dies from COVID-19 complications

Galena — Nurse becomes 3rd Ohio prison employee to die from COVID-19

Orient — Nurse at Ohio prison dies from COVID-19

Columbus — Ohio corrections officer dies from COVID-19

PENNSYLVANIA

Allentown — 30-year-old father of 2 becomes first Pa. county CO to die from COVID-19

Glen Mills — Veteran Pa. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

RHODE ISLAND

Cranston — RI correctional officer dies from COVID-19 complications

SOUTH carolina

Columbia — SC correctional officer dies after testing positive for COVID-19

TEXAS

Huntsville — Huntsville CO dies from COVID-19

Beaumont — Texas CO dies from COVID-19 less than one month after beginning career

Lubbock — COVID-19 claims the life of another Texas prison correctional officer

Bryan — Texas prison correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Brownwood — Texas corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Huntsville — COVID-19 claims the life of another Texas prison corrections officer

Collin County — Texas corrections officer dies after contracting COVID-19

Huntsville — Veteran Texas prison corrections officer dies of COVID-19

Williamson County — Texas corrections officer dies after COVID-19 battle

Tarrant County — Texas county sheriff's corporal dies from COVID-19

Dickinson — Texas correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Edinburg — Texas prison chaplain dies from COVID-19

Jefferson County — Texas correctional officer dies after battling COVID-19

Jasper County — 24-year veteran Texas CO dies from COVID-19

Huntsville — Longtime Texas CO dies after contracting COVID-19

Huntsville — Texas corrections officer dies from COVID-19 complications

El Paso — Longtime Texas jail employee dies from COVID-19

Huntsville — Another Texas correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Lubbock — Veteran Texas corrections officer dies from COVID-19

La Villa — Texas detention officer dies from COVID-19

Hutchins — Texas correctional officer dies from COVID-19 complications

Huntsville — 2 Texas correctional officers die from COVID-19

San Antonio — Texas detention deputy dies after testing positive for COVID-19

Abilene — Texas corrections officer dies from COVID-19

New Boston — Texas correctional officer dies from COVID-19

Amarillo — Texas CO dies from COVID-19 complications

WASHINGTON, D.C.

D.C. — DC corrections officer dies from COVID-19

WASHINGTON

Aberdeen — Wash. CO dies from COVID-19

Aberdeen — 2nd Wash. CO dies from COVID-19 as prisons begin vaccine rollout

Yakima — Wash. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

Olympia — 1st Wash. corrections officer dies from COVID-19

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston — Veteran W.Va. corrections officer dies from COVID-19