Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Jose Rivera died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while assigned to Precinct 2 at 3903 Bridge Road in Suffolk.
Sergeant Rivera was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served 14 years with the Suffolk Police Department.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Sergeant Jose Ramon Rivera died on May 31, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 59.
He is one of 884 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.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-5F01256A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Sergeant Rivera gave the Suffolk Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Suffolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Rivera.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jose Ramon Rivera served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Jose Ramon Rivera is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 23 of 654 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.5% of this state's fallen. That is 5.6 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Suffolk Police Department, 1 of 5 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jose Ramon Rivera's cause is highlighted.
How Jose Ramon Rivera Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Jose Ramon Rivera is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Suffolk Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
