Police Officer Daniel J. Sanchez, New York City Police Department, New York

Police Officer Daniel J. Sanchez

New York City Police Department, New York

End of Watch Wednesday, January 19, 2022

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Daniel J. Sanchez

Police Officer Daniel Sanchez died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Officer Sanchez had served with the New York City Police Department for 15 years and was assigned to Highway Unit #5. He is survived by his wife and two 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.