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Scott Edward Merritt
Agency patch
Officer

Scott Edward Merritt

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
COVID-19 → Illness
United States flag California flag
End of Watch September 10, 2021
Age 42
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 390 · Column 4 · Line 3 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 233

Incident

Officer Scott Merritt died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Officer Merritt had served with the California Highway Patrol for 16 years and was assigned the Bakersfield Area office.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Officer Scott Edward Merritt died on September 10, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 42.

He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 4 at California Highway Patrol.

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, son, daughter, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Scott. Claim this record.

Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. Scott is one person.

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Tributes

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Officer Merritt gave the California Highway Patrol 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Merritt.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 2021
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

Scott is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Scott was 42. 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. Scott had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Scott among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Scott Edward Merritt

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch September 10, 2021

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

Also Remembered

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — requiem.nw →

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