Sergeant Jamie John Arakawa

Jamie John Arakawa

Sergeant Jamie Arakawa died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Sergeant Arakawa was a United States Marine Corps Reserve veteran and had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, two grandchildren, and his mother.

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.