LAPD announced the eighth COVID-19 related death within the department after security officer Dexter De Los Santos died on Nov. 29.

De Los Santos’ death marked the third in a week and fifth in the month of January, with 1st Sgt. Patricia Guillen, officer Philip Sudario, 1st Sgt. Amelia “Terry” Rodriguez and service representative Raymond L. Guerrero all passing in the last month.

The three LAPD employees who passed in 2020 were Sgt. Fred Cueto, senior detention officer Erica McAdoo and Valentin Martinez, with Martinez being the first reported COVID-19 death on July 24.

“Fred, Terry, Raymond, Valentin, Erica, Philip, Dexter, Patricia—you will never be forgotten,” LAPD said in a statement. “We thank you for your dedicated service. May you all Rest In Peace.”

There have been 223 law enforcement deaths from COVID-19 complications across the U.S., according to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) organization.

More U.S. law enforcement officers have died of COVID-19 than those who were killed in the line of duty in 2019, according to FBI statistics. A total of 89 officer deaths occurred in 2019, 48 being part of felonious acts and 41 being described as accidents.

 

 

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