Court Officer Gerald F. Lynch, Mentor Police Department, Ohio

Court Officer Gerald F. Lynch

Mentor Police Department, Ohio

End of Watch Sunday, October 3, 2021

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Gerald F. Lynch

Court Officer Gerry Lynch died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while serving as a court transportation officer.

Officer Lynch was a United States Army veteran who had served with the Mentor Police Department for at least a year and previously served with the Painesville Police Department for over 23 years and the Cleveland Heights Police Department for over five years. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, a brother, and a sister.

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 56
Tour 30 years, 2 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause COVID19
Incident Date Not available

communicable disease, COVID-19

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NEVER FORGET! Honoring the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice Court Officer Gerald F. Lynch of the Mentor Police Department, Ohio and additional 79 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired)
Ohio Attorneys General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

October 3, 2025