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Incident
Commander Donafay Collins died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among staff and inmates at the Jail Division 2 facility at 525 Clinton Street in Detroit.
Commander Collins had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 30 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Commander Donafay Collins died on March 25, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 63.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 5 at Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
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.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Donafay. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Donafay is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Commander Collins gave the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Commander Collins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Wayne County Sheriff's Department has lost 14 officers; 5 of them lost to illness.
Donafay is one of 24 officers lost to illness in MI, 3.4% of the 703 remembered there.
Donafay is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Donafay 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, 3 officers at Wayne County Sheriff's Department were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2020, 5 officers in MI were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 9.
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
Donafay was 63. Of the 5 lost to illness at Wayne County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 51 and 63; the middle age was 57. Donafay had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 27 years.
Donafay was 63. Of the 24 lost to illness in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 46.8 and 61.3; the middle age was 51.5. Donafay had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 25 years.
Donafay was 63. 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. Donafay had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Donafay was 63. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Donafay had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
March holds 20% of these deaths at Wayne County Sheriff's Department; December holds the most, 40%. Wednesdays: 20%.
March holds 20.8% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 20.8%. Wednesdays: 8.3%.
March holds 5.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Wednesdays: 14%.
March holds 6.2% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 13.6%.
How
Illness deaths account for 35.7% of all 14 deaths at Wayne County Sheriff's Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 3.4% of all 703 deaths in MI, the 4th 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
Wayne County Sheriff's Department has 14 officers remembered here, Donafay among them.
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Charles Small Jul 6, 1857
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Thomas Clancy May 5, 1860
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Thomas Lee Wojtowicz Nov 12, 1968
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Henry C. Henderson
Mar 9, 1972
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Paul Lee Mickel
Nov 18, 1973
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Thomas Eugene Andrews
Dec 4, 1976
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William Dickerson
Sep 11, 1991
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Lee Eric Smith
Aug 14, 2018
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Donafay Collins
Mar 25, 2020
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Dean Michael Savard
Apr 3, 2020
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Bryant Searcy
Sep 2, 2020
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Benny N. Napoleon
Dec 17, 2020
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John Joseph Wojciechowski
Dec 21, 2021
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Ernest M. Robinson
Jan 18, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Wayne County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
