Erik James Skelton
Incident
Location: Florida Incident Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Officer Erik Skelton died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at the Miami International Airport.
Officer Skelton had served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs & Border Protection for over four years. He had served with the Adams County Sherriff's Office, Colorado Department of Corrections, Glendale Police Department, and the Transportation Security Administration.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Officer Erik James Skelton died on August 24, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 34.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 29 at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations.
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
Officer Skelton is survived by his wife, parents, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Officer Skelton gave the United States Department of Homeland Security 6 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Skelton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations has lost 39 officers; 30 of them lost to illness.
Erik is one of 137 officers lost to illness in DC, 9.7% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Erik is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Erik 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, 16 officers at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 45 officers in DC 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
Erik was 34. Of the 29 lost to illness at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations whose age is recorded, half were between 48 and 57; the middle age was 51. Erik had served 6.4 years; the middle length of service was 17.9 years.
Erik was 34. Of the 136 lost to illness in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.3; the middle age was 51. Erik had served 6.4 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Erik was 34. 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. Erik had served 6.4 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Erik was 34. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Erik had served 6.4 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
August holds 13.3% of these deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations; December holds the most, 20%. Tuesdays: 6.7%.
August holds 10.9% of these deaths in DC; October holds the most, 13.9%. Tuesdays: 9.5%.
August holds 10.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Tuesdays: 13.8%.
How
Illness deaths account for 76.9% of all 39 deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, the most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 9.7% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, 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
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations has 39 officers remembered here, Erik among them.
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Charles Floyd Collins, II
Jul 11, 2010
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John Richard Zykas
Sep 8, 2010
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Darrell Jean Windhaus
Dec 29, 2013
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Dwight Bernard Blackman, Jr.
Aug 7, 2015
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Edgard Garcia
May 5, 2017
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Wolf Ruben Valmond
Dec 15, 2019
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Richard G. McCoy
May 2, 2020
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Omar E. Palmer
May 4, 2020
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Ching Kok Yan
May 16, 2020
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Alfonso H. Murrieta
Jul 9, 2020
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Roel De La Fuente
Jul 13, 2020
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Lucas G. Saucedo, Jr.
Aug 21, 2020
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Carlo Jay Cayabyab
Sep 16, 2020
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Domingo Jasso, III
Nov 5, 2020
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Jose Antonio Santana
Dec 2, 2020
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Richard Rios
Dec 2, 2020
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Andrew Raymond Bouchard
Dec 19, 2020
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Troy Allen Adkins
Dec 31, 2020
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Byron Don Shields
Jan 20, 2021
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Beverly Matthews-Good
Jan 28, 2021
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Cesar Dangaran Sibonga
Feb 7, 2021
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Genaro Guerrero
Feb 15, 2021
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Carlos C. Mendoza
Feb 24, 2021
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Crispin San Juan San Jose
Mar 9, 2021
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Ruben Facio
Jul 17, 2021
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Yokemia Letriz Conyers
Aug 18, 2021
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Monica June Riola
Aug 20, 2021
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Erik James Skelton
Aug 24, 2021
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David Bryant Saavedra
Sep 2, 2021
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Victor Julian Donate
Oct 7, 2021
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Mathew Leslie Lyons
Oct 28, 2021
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Kenneth MacCallum
Nov 26, 2021
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Jeffrey Dela Cruz
Dec 23, 2021
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Brian Vogel
Dec 30, 2021
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Bruce Eckhoff
Jan 5, 2022
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Cody Alan Olafson
May 20, 2022
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Jorge Arias
Oct 19, 2022
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Jacqueline Montanaro
Jan 14, 2023
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John Dale Leatham
May 17, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-W
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
38 officers from United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















