Data shows COVID-19 leading cause of death among law enforcement officers

Jacksonville, Fla. — An Action News Jax investigation has found that COVID-19 is the leading cause of death among law enforcement officers.

In the past six months, the virus claimed the lives of four officers in Northeast Florida: JSO’S Lt. Christopher Michael Cunningham Sr., Clay County’s Sgt. Eric Twisdale, Baliff Jack Gwynes of Nassau County, and JSO’s Sgt. Lou Livatino.

JSO tells Action News Jax Livatino volunteered for the agency for nearly a decade.

“My husband, Lou Livatino, was passionate about JSO, the reserves, and the community. He loved it so much, he lived and breathed it. But most of all, he loved all the people,” Sheryl Livatino said of her late husband.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, first responders, and family and friends stood at attention Friday morning as they paid their respects to Livatino at the North Jacksonville Baptist Church.

“Please, I’m urging the community to take COVID seriously,” Sheryl Livatino said.

Action News Jax dug through data and found that COVID-19 is the leading cause of death among law enforcement officers.

The Officers Down Memorial Page shows nationally out of 240 line of duty deaths, 219 have been from the virus. And the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows 14 officers in Florida have died of COVID-19 -- four of whom served Northeast Florida.

Sheryl Livatino tells Action News Jax her husband took all the COVID-19 safety precautions, and still caught the deadly virus.

“Regrettably we’ve lost a wonderful man because of COVID and he can never be replaced,” Livatino said.

She tells Action News Jax she finds comfort in knowing her husband was doing what he loved up until the very end.

“He always put others first, and he volunteered whenever he could for the community,” Livatino added. The couple would’ve celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary in May.

Cox Media Group