Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Add to My HeroesLonny Hempstead
Lieutenant Lonny Hempstead died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a confirmed exposure while serving a search warrant.
Lieutenant Hempstead was a Florida Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office for 26 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, two grandchildren, and parents.
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 55
- Tour 26 years
- Badge 62-2
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause COVID19
- Incident Date Saturday, July 17, 2021
Most Recent Reflection
View all 23 ReflectionsGonna miss you Cousin Lonny. Wish I could have had just one more Thanksgiving with you. We’ve got the watch from here.
D/S Jeremy Key
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
October 10, 2021
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