Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
End of Watch Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Add to My HeroesHarold Paul "Skip" Smith, Jr.
Corrections Officer IV Skip Smith died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among employees and inmates at the Rufe Jordan Unit at 1992 Helton Road in Pampa.
Officer Smith had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 5-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
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 77
- Tour 5 years, 6 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause COVID19
- Incident Date Monday, November 30, 2020
Most Recent Reflection
View all 46 ReflectionsYou will always be remembered. Thank you for your sacrifice and service. Your suffering is not in vain. Go and be thou at peace.
CASA Milton Smith
Bowie County Court of Law
November 3, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Jacob Derbin
Euclid Police Department, OH
EOW: May 11, 2024
Master-at-Arms Lyndon Joel Cosgriff-Flax
United States Navy Security Forces, US
EOW: April 28, 2024
Sergeant Bill Hooser
Santaquin Police Department, UT
EOW: May 5, 2024
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator William "Alden" Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator Samuel Poloche
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Joshua Eyer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: April 27, 2024
Sergeant Ian Taylor
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: April 26, 2024