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Incident
Sergeant Derek Stewart died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Zephyrhills Correctional Institution at 2739 Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills.
Sergeant Stewart had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for 21 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Sergeant Derek Stewart died on April 28, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 39.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 6 at Florida Department of Corrections.
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 three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp5mpdg0behwdh2cv8ew- Stewardship
- 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. Derek is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant Stewart gave the Florida Department of Corrections 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Stewart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Florida Department of Corrections has lost 33 officers; 6 of them lost to illness.
Derek is one of 81 officers lost to illness in FL, 8% of the 1,007 remembered there.
Derek is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Derek 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, 5 officers at Florida Department of Corrections were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 55 officers in FL 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
Derek was 39. Of the 5 lost to illness at Florida Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 46; the middle age was 42. Derek had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 16.5 years.
Derek was 39. Of the 79 lost to illness in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 53; the middle age was 48. Derek had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 16.5 years.
Derek was 39. 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. Derek had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Derek was 39. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Derek had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
April holds 16.7% of these deaths at Florida Department of Corrections; March holds the most, 33.3%. Wednesdays: 16.7%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths in FL; August holds the most, 33.3%. Wednesdays: 17.3%.
April holds 6.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Wednesdays: 14%.
April holds 7.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 13.6%.
How
Illness deaths account for 18.2% of all 33 deaths at Florida Department of Corrections, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, 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
Florida Department of Corrections has 33 officers remembered here, Derek among them.
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James G. Godwin
Apr 4, 1955
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Howard Daniel Starling
Jul 4, 1964
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Lester B. Sumner
Apr 26, 1965
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James W. Parr, Sr.
Aug 11, 1966
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Paul Jordan
Jan 24, 1976
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Lauriston F. Hustus, Jr.
Jul 16, 1980
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Richard James Burke
Oct 12, 1980
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Bjorn Thomas Svenson
Aug 31, 1982
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Donald L. Pawlizak Apr 21, 1983
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John S. Dennard
May 5, 1983
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Michael Peter Serano
Jan 6, 1984
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Fred Sidney Griffis
Jun 24, 1987
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Hoyt L. Ergle
Dec 15, 1987
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Charles Andrew Cooper
Sep 15, 1988
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Kenneth M. Hendrick
Jan 28, 1993
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Lee Charles Dunn
Jan 24, 2000
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Darla Kay Lathrem
Jun 11, 2003
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Donna Fitzgerald
Jun 25, 2008
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Adam Michael Sanderson
Mar 6, 2009
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Gregory Guy Malloy
Feb 2, 2011
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Ruben Howard Thomas, III
Mar 18, 2012
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Jorge Ramos
May 1, 2016
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Joseph Ossman
Sep 10, 2017
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Tawanna V. Marin
Jun 18, 2018
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Nicklaus Dustin Knight May 12, 2019
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Robert Wayne Rogers
Jul 31, 2020
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Jack Sale Stewart
Feb 13, 2021
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William Scott Fox
Mar 4, 2021
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John Annarumma
Mar 6, 2021
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Derek Stewart
Apr 28, 2021
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Whitney Nicole Cloud
Aug 28, 2021
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Kelly Jo Klimkowski
Sep 28, 2021
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James Alexander Jackson
Aug 15, 2025
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
32 officers from Florida Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
