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Incident
Correctional Officer Juan Cruz died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Fresno County Correctional Facility at 1225 M Street in Fresno.
Correctional Officer Cruz had served with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office for nine years and served with other agencies for 13 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Correctional Officer Juan Cruz Jr. died on November 5, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 52.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
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 two daughters, two sons, and his mother.
In Our Keeping
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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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Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Juan is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Correctional Officer Cruz gave the Fresno County Sheriff's Office 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fresno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Cruz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Fresno County Sheriff's Office has lost 15 officers; 3 of them lost to illness.
Juan is one of 75 officers lost to illness in CA, 4.1% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Juan is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Juan 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, 25 officers in CA 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
Juan was 52. Of the 75 lost to illness in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 53; the middle age was 48. Juan had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Juan was 52. 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. Juan had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Juan was 52. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Juan had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
November holds 13.3% of these deaths in CA; January holds the most, 13.3%. Fridays: 13.3%.
November holds 7.8% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
November holds 8% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 20% of all 15 deaths at Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 4.1% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, 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
Fresno County Sheriff's Office has 15 officers remembered here, Juan among them.
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Joe Dodd Price
Mar 13, 1907
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John J. O'Leary
Mar 31, 1931
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William Harry Collins
Feb 25, 1937
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Richard Thomas Bain
Nov 16, 1961
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Harold Hurst
Oct 2, 1968
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David G. Graves
Nov 5, 1982
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Jeffrey Sean Isaac
Sep 8, 1997
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Erik Jon Telen
Aug 21, 2001
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Dennis Earl Phelps
May 20, 2002
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Joshua Clyde Lancaster
May 29, 2003
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Joel Brian Wahlenmaier
Feb 25, 2010
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Rod Barron Lucas
Oct 31, 2016
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Jose Cruz Mora
Sep 7, 2020
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Toamalama Scanlan
Oct 12, 2021
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Juan Cruz, Jr.
Nov 5, 2021
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
14 officers from Fresno County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
