By Eileen Kelley
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The first to die was in April 2020 when the country still had no idea just how bad COVID-19′s wrath would be.
In one month, another employee of the Broward Sheriff’s Office died. Then another in August, followed by more, all at a time most grieving family members and law enforcement agencies were forgoing funerals and large memorial gatherings to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease.
To date, nine employees of the Sheriff’s Office have died of COVID-19. Everyone, though, has been impacted in some way.
Well over half of the 5,600-strong workforce has been exposed to the virus and 32% — a staggering 1,800 employees — have contracted it, Sheriff Gregory Tony said Tuesday as he stood on the stage of a mega church in Sunrise and told the family members of the nine who died that their loved ones are greatly missed.
“We didn’t lose one, two, three — we lost nine,” Tony said.
Tuesday’s memorial service for the the three sworn law enforcement officers and six civilians who died of COVID-19 drew several hundred Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, correction workers, firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatch workers. Another hundred or so family members, each carrying a single red rose, were last the enter the Faith Center and occupy the first three rows of seats.
Before them on the stage were large black-and-white photographs of the fallen: Deputy Shannon Bennett, 39; Nikima Thompson, 41; Wiley Huff, 73; Lt. Aldemar Rengifo Jr., 54; Pamela Ford, 54; Stephen Adams, 42; Sgt. Shane Owens, 48; Edwin Sanchez, 61; and Tasha Blackwood, 54.
“One love. One passing. One family grieving is a lot. Nine. It is heart-wrenching. Our thoughts and prayers and our tears are with you,” said pastor David Rosa Jr. of the Cruciform Church.
“To the family of officer Shannon Bennett who sacrificially served his community and selflessly supported his family, and Communications Operator Nikima Thompson who with sass attacked her evolving world fearlessly.
“To the family of Equal Employment Opportunity Manager Wiley J. Huff whose presence would not go unnoticed, and Lt. Aldemar Rengifo Jr., whose son Ryan lit up his eyes.
“To the family of Community Programs Specialist Pamela Ford who loved God and loved to boss her sister around, and Detention Aide Stephen Adams who loved family and the Chargers.
“To Sgt. Shane Owens who through his leadership and handwork became a legend in Central Intake, and Court Bailiff Edwin Sanchez who became a sea cadet, wearing his green fatigues and combat boots that practically weighed more than he did.
“To Confinement Status Specialist Tasha Blackwood who fought and loved hard and the Broward Sheriff’s Office who trained, disciplined, and cared for the aforementioned, our hearts cry with yours. We mourn with you. But so too do we thank you for the influence you had on your loved ones. An influence that shaped them into all that they were.”
Rosa encouraged the mourners to hold the dead close to their hearts but to carry on in their honor.
“You can shed tears that they are gone, or you can smile because they lived,” he said. “You can close your eyes and pray that they’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that they have left.”
A large bell tolled nine times in honor of the nine lost to COVID. And for short time there was silence, only to be replaced by soft cries that amplified when nine American flags were were placed in the hands of nine family members in a flag presentation ceremony by the sheriff and Honor Guard.
The mass service was a harsh reminder of COVID’s toll. All of the several hundred in attendance were required to wear a mask inside the mega church. The sheriff on numerous occasions reminded the mourners that even though they were gathering en-masse, COVID is not over.
Though the sheriff never mentioned vaccines, he told those that put on the uniform each day to remain vigilant so as not to be the 10th victim.
On Sept. 4, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported how COVID-19 was by far the number one cop killer in the country which at the time felled 622 law enforcement officers since the start of the pandemic. Today, the most up-to-date number tracked by the National Fraternal of Police stands at 786.
In September, Florida and California each had 56 COVID-19 deaths among its sworn law enforcement personnel, outpaced only by Texas. As of Nov. 8, Florida with its 72 COVID-19 law enforcement deaths has surpassed California’s 61. In Texas, the number stands at 185.
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