"Heroes Live Forever"--the story of Fairfax County (VA) Sheriff's Sgt. Frederick "Butch" Cameron

Law enforcement officers had the highest Covid death rate of all American workers, with more than 800 of them dying of the disease over a three-year period

McLean, VA (August 20, 2024) - For the last four years of his distinguished career as a correctional officer with the Fairfax County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, Frederick H. “Butch” Cameron Jr. was assigned to the Facilities Services Section. And during the height of the pandemic he led the response team that sanitized and sterilized high use and Covid-infected areas for the protection of inmates and staff. This work, and his close proximity to inmates put him at great personal risk. At least one in five incarcerated people in the U.S. contracted Covid. Yet, regrettably, most states did not prioritize incarcerated people in their vaccination plans. Sadly, Butch contracted the disease while on duty and died on January 12, 2021, at the age of 51. He was one of 660 law enforcement officers who made the supreme sacrifice in 2021. It was the deadliest year, by far, in law enforcement history. Covid was the number one cause of death and, over a three-year period, more than 800 officers would die of the disease. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that law enforcement officers had the highest Covid death rate of all American workers. The reason was obvious. Law enforcement officers had a job that did not allow them to stay at home—and stay safe—like the rest of us.

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