Sergeant Jose Ramon Rivera, Suffolk Police Department, Virginia

Sergeant Jose Ramon Rivera

Suffolk Police Department, Virginia

End of Watch Monday, May 31, 2021

Add to My Heroes

Jose Ramon Rivera

Sergeant Jose Rivera died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while assigned to Precinct 2 at 3903 Bridge Road in Suffolk.

Sergeant Rivera was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served 14 years with the Suffolk Police Department. He is survived by his wife.

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 14 years
Badge 424
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause COVID19
Incident Date Sunday, April 18, 2021

communicable disease, COVID-19

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Most Recent Reflection

View all 12 Reflections

It's been 4 years since you left us. I'm sitting across from your name at the National Memorial. All I can think of is how dedicated you were to your family and your department. It was an extreme pleasure working with you, and watching you grow as an officer. You were especially a great boss to work for. I may have disappointed you a couple of times, but you gave me what I deserved and left it at that. Working together on the Honor Guard was a blast, and there are so many great memories. I only wish we could have come to DC before you died. It would have been glorious. Semper Fi, Marine.

Po III Kenneth Smith
Suffolk PD

May 12, 2025