Austin police officer dies of COVID-19
Auston TX Aug 26 2021 An Austin police officer died early Wednesday while being treated of COVID-19, marking the department’s first death from the coronavirus since the pandemic began affecting the area nearly 18 months ago.
The death comes as the department is experiencing a spread of the virus through its ranks, with dozens currently off the street while they receive treatment or recover.
Senior Police Officer Randolph Boyd died after “a valiant fight,” interim Police Chief Joe Chacon said in an announcement to the department. Boyd, who joined the department in 2014, leaves behind a wife and twin sons.
“Randy was a great officer who gave everything he had for a life of service,” Chacon wrote. “We find ourselves in a heartbreaking situation and we will come through it as as family. Please keep Randy and his family in your thoughts and prayers and honoring his memory by taking all precautions to keep yourself and your family safe.”
Boyd’s death will likely be considered in the line of duty, which will allow his family to receive state death benefits.
State lawmakers in May passed the so-called COVID-19 presumption bill that allows public safety agencies to assume that first responders contracted the virus on the job.
Austin Police Department officials said that 49 employees are currently on leave after testing positive for COVID-19. Of them, 41 are officers and eight are civilians. At least one other officer is in the hospital.
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas has said that more than 100 officers statewide have died from the coronavirus. Nationally, more officers have died of COVID-19 than any other cause in 2020 and in 2021, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks such deaths.
