Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri
End of Watch Thursday, August 12, 2021
Add to My HeroesDennis Keith Bennett
Correctional Officer Dennis Bennett died as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri.
Officer Bennett was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and had served with the Missouri Department of Corrections for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and five 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 20 years
- Badge 48062
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause COVID19
- Incident Date Friday, July 23, 2021
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