Police Officer Michael Lee

Police Officer Michael Lee

Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police

End of Watch Thursday, June 18, 2020

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Michael Lee

Police Officer Michael Lee died after contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.

Officer Lee had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for 29 years and was assigned to the Chinle Police District. He is survived by his wife and 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 50
  • Tour 29 years
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause COVID19
  • Location Arizona

COVID-19, communicable disease

Most Recent Reflection

View all 110 Reflections

It's that time of years when you would've finished your trips to California and Nevada to collect Toys for Tots and be wrapping gifts at Chinle Elementary School. Getting all the elves and your sleigh ready for the big day, delivering toys to the children all across Chinle Agency.

Miss you every day, People tell you time will heal but it has been 1 and half year. It seems to just get harder and harder for me, us, mom and dad. Keep speaking out of your family and for this pandemic to go away, while you sit at Jesus's table.

Love and Missing you
Herberta & Gary, Mom and Dad, Crystal & Jermaine, Tyra, Garrett, Derek & Devin, Ashley & Shelton, Hailey, Ashton, Weston, and Nataley.

Herberta John

December 16, 2021

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