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Joseph Thomas Cappello III
Incident
Police Officer Joseph Cappello died after contracting COVID-19 through a confirmed exposure while on duty at a business in the 8400 block of West North Avenue.
Officer Cappello had served with the Melrose Park Police Department for two years after having retired from the Cook County Sheriff's Office with 20 years of service.
Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.
Corrections agencies, in particular, suffered tremendous losses due to the constant and close proximity between the corrections officers and large inmate populations. Since March 2020, ODMP has verified that over 900 law enforcement officers have died as the result of a confirmed or presumed exposure while on duty and continues to work with hundreds of other agencies that have suffered a COVID-related death.
Visit ODMP's COVID-19 memorial listing every officer who has died as a result of a confirmed or presumed exposure.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Police Officer Joseph Thomas Cappello III died on April 24, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 55.
He is one of 885 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Police Officer Cappello gave the Melrose Park Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Melrose Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cappello.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Melrose Park Police Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Joseph is one of 66 officers lost to illness in IL, 5% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2020, 11 officers in IL were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 16.
In 2020, 346 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2020, 347 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Joseph was 55. Of the 66 lost to illness in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 51; the middle age was 45.5. Joseph had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 13.2 years.
Joseph was 55. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Joseph had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Joseph was 55. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Joseph had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
April holds 15.2% of these deaths in IL; January holds the most, 19.7%. Fridays: 13.6%.
April holds 6.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
April holds 7.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Melrose Park Police Department, the most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 5% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Melrose Park Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Melrose Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
