Corrections Officer V Maria Luisa Mendez

Corrections Officer V Maria Luisa Mendez

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas

End of Watch Saturday, May 9, 2020

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Maria Luisa Mendez

Corrections Officer V Maria Mendez died after contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure during an outbreak at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas.

Officer Mendez had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 10 years. She is survived by four children.


The Effects of COVID on Law Enforcement

Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.

Corrections agencies, in particular, suffered tremendous losses due to the constant and close proximity between the corrections officers and large inmate populations. Since March 2020, ODMP has verified that over 900 law enforcement officers have died as the result of a confirmed or presumed exposure while on duty and continues to work with hundreds of other agencies that have suffered a COVID-related death.

Visit ODMP's COVID-19 memorial listing every officer who has died as a result of a confirmed or presumed exposure.

Bio

  • Age 59
  • Tour 10 years
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause COVID19
  • Incident Date Sunday, April 12, 2020

COVID-19, communicable disease

Most Recent Reflection

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Be Thou at Peace Warrior, thanks for your selfless service.

Sgt JD Cotham, Retired
El Paso TX Police Dept

July 6, 2021

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