Published Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | 2:25 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | 3:50 p.m.
Erik Lloyd
A veteran Metro Police officer died this morning from COVID-19 complications, the department announced.
The death of Lt. Erik Lloyd, who had a nearly 30-year career with the agency and was president of the Injured Officers Police Fund, was considered in the line of duty, Metro said.
The department didn’t indicate how Lloyd might have contracted the disease.
“I speak for everyone who knew him that this is a profound loss,” Sheriff Joe Lombardo said in a statement. “He was the type of officer who represents all the values you want in a person.”
“He was hardworking, honest, kind and generous with his time,” Lombardo said. “He created a legacy outside of his work here at LVMPD, working to help people in their greatest time of grief. The LVMPD is a better agency for having Erik.”
Lloyd had been working to raise money to help with medical expenses for injured Officer Shay Mikalonis, who was shot and paralyzed during a June protest on the Strip. Lloyd made his mark with the Injured Officers Police Fund, which raises money for spouses of fallen officers.
Lloyd started his Metro career in 1990 as a patrol officer. In 2014, he was elevated from sergeant to lieutenant and worked with the Force Investigation Team, which handles internal affairs.
“Lt. Lloyd was an amazing officer whose work in our community helped countless families,” Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick said in a statement. “His passing shows us all the dangers of this virus and the importance of doing everything we can to fight it. Knowing the lieutenant is no longer with us makes my heart ache. His family will always be in my prayers.”
Gov. Steve Sisolak said on Twitter that he and first lady Kathy Sisolak were "heartbroken" over the news of Lloyd's death.
Lloyd is survived by his wife, Minddie, two daughters, five grandchildren and his parents. A Facebook post on Tuesday from Las Vegas Metro Officer Wives stated that Lloyd was in critical condition, and that his wife had also contracted the virus, but had just been released from the hospital.
As of this week, 172 Metro employees have tested positive for COVID-19, while 44 test results were pending. At least 780 people have died from the virus in Nevada, most in Clark County.
This is the first known COVID-19 death of a law enforcement officer in the valley, and Metro's first line-of-duty death from since Officer Charleston Hartfield died helping concert attendees flee gunfire during the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip.
