Police Officer Efren Coronel, El Centro Police Department, California

Police Officer Efren Coronel

El Centro Police Department, California

End of Watch Wednesday, June 3, 2020

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Efren Coronel

Police Officer Efren Coronel died after contracting COVID-19 as the result of a confirmed exposure at the intersection of 8th Street and Main Street during the arrest of an offender who was positive with COVID-19.

Officer Coronel had served with the El Centro Police Department for 24 years. He is survived by his wife and two 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 51
Tour 24 years
Badge 354

Incident Details

Cause COVID19
Incident Date Wednesday, April 29, 2020

communicable disease, COVID-19

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On the day of your funeral, I drove my POV in the procession. At that time, it seemed like everyone hated cops, and all we ever heard was defund the police, how cops were bad, etc. I had begun to think that was the new paradigm and it seemed like we had few supporters. That was, until we drove down the freeway and started seeing the cars of regular citizens parked along the freeway with American flags flying and their hands over their hearts. I mean a LOT of cars. This continued down Imperial Avenue as the entire route was lined with people waving flags or standing with tears on their faces. There were no gaps all the way down the route to the El Centro police station. I had never been so moved by the outpouring of love from the entire community. It actually gave me hope for the future. You affected so many people and yet you were one of the most humble people I have ever met. Thank you for your service, buddy. It was an honor serving with you.

Jerrold Novak, Sgt. (Retired)
El Centro Police Department

March 16, 2025