Detective Wayne H. Fortier

Wayne H. Fortier

Detective Wayne Fortier died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Detective Fortier was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam war. He had served with the Grafton County Sheriff's Department for over 18 years. His law enforcement career spanned 48 years, having previously served with the Haverhill Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Plymouth Police Department. He is survived by his wife, five 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.