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Incident
Lieutenant Earnie Oldham died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Lieutenant Oldham had served with the Plano Police Department for 34 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Lieutenant Earnest Oldham died on September 16, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 57.
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.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and twin children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp3t3pvfjgbg6x3bfazp- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Earnest. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Earnest is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Lieutenant Oldham gave the Plano Police Department 34 years.
Thank you for your service to the Plano community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Oldham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Plano Police Department has lost 3 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Earnest is one of 204 officers lost to illness in TX, 8.4% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Earnest is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Earnest 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 2021, 99 officers in TX were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 566 officers worldwide were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
Who
Earnest was 57. Of the 201 lost to illness in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 59; the middle age was 53. Earnest had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Earnest was 57. 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. Earnest had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Earnest was 57. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Earnest had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
September holds 16.7% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.7%.
September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Thursdays: 15.7%.
September holds 9.8% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 15.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 33.3% of all 3 deaths at Plano Police Department, the most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.4% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, 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
Plano Police Department has 3 officers remembered here, Earnest among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-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
2 officers from Plano Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
