Richmond Police Department, California
End of Watch Thursday, August 20, 2020
Add to My HeroesVirgil Lynn Thomas, Sr.
Sergeant Virgil Thomas died after contracting COVID-19 during a call for service.
Sergeant Thomas had served with the Richmond Police Department for 24 years. He had previously served with the Albany Police Department and Novato Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife and 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 600 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 28 years
- Badge 1270
Incident Details
- Cause COVID19
Most Recent Reflection
View all 91 ReflectionsI love you!! Please watch I over us. We need you here. But we can’t be selfish.... it hasn’t been the same. But we will keep moving forward to honor your name. Continue to watch over..
Police officer Khala Finley
RPD
December 16, 2020
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