Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Metro sergeant, 36, dies of COVID, the second officer death in 2 weeks

King

Sgt. Douglas King, who died Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, due to complications from the coronavirus, is shown with family in this undated handout photo.

Metro Police on Tuesday announced the death of a longtime sergeant from COVID-19, making him the fourth Metro officer to die from the coronavirus and third within the past two months amid a surge in delta variant cases. 

Sgt. Douglas King, 36, died Monday due to complications from the coronavirus, Metro said in a news release. King is a second-generation Metro officer and served the Las Vegas community for 17 years, the department said. He was assigned to the Summerlin Area Command swing shift. 

“He was a well-liked sergeant who was known for his great personality and uplifting disposition,” the release said. 

King was to receive the department's Medal of Honor at the upcoming Best of the Badge Gala for saving the life of a domestic violence victim in September. “His bravery went far and above the normal call of duty,” the release said. 

King is survived by his wife, Cinnamon, who is currently assigned to Metro's Communications Section; his three daughters, Scarlett, Tommi and Hannah; granddaughter Marley; grandmother Joann; father John; mother Denise; brother Josh and sister Kaylee. 

Metro announced on Monday a fundraiser to benefit officer Phil Closi, 48, who died Aug. 11 from COVID-19 complications. Closi was a 21-year Metro veteran who worked out of the Convention Center Area Command and was a D.A.R.E. officer. 

The Nevada Health Response on Tuesday reported 950 new coronavirus cases to bring the state’s total case count to 382,773 since the start of the pandemic. The agency also reported 12 new deaths. Hospitalizations from the virus in Clark County and Nevada are at the highest rate since peaking in January. 

King’s death makes him at least the fourth Metro officer to die from the virus that has killed more than 6,352 statewide as of Tuesday. Eight-year veteran Jason Swanger, 41, died last month due to complications, and Lt. Erik Loyd, 53, died July 29, 2020. Funeral arrangements for King and Closi have not been made public at this time. 

Civilian employee John Melwak, 70, died Oct. 23, and retired detective Michael Karstedt, 70, died Jan. 30. It’s unknown if any of the Metro employees who died were vaccinated.