End of Watch July 23, 2020
Age 64
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 172 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Inspector Lowery Ware died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in a confirmed exposure while on duty at the Peter Rodino Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey.

Inspector Ware was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Federal Protective Service for 18 years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Inspector Lowery Ware, Sr. died on July 23, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 64.

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, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-6935C63C
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Lowery. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Inspector Ware gave the United States Department of Homeland Security 18 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Ware.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdhsfpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 2020
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 64
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Military Service

Lowery Ware, Sr. served in the Air Force (1981–2001) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Inspector Lowery Ware, Sr. 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 DC, 137 of 1,419 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 9.7% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.

At United States Department of Homeland Security - Federal Protective Service, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 100% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Homeland Security - Federal Protective Service
2
of 2 officers
100% Illness
DC — Statewide
137
of 1,419 officers
9.7% Illness
Nationwide
2,974
of 32,508 officers
9.1% Illness

National Cause Distribution

How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lowery Ware, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Lowery Ware, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
64
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Lowery Ware, Sr. is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
294
Feb
198
Mar
185
Apr
226
May
201
Jun
181
Jul
217
Aug
281
Sep
291
Oct
376
Nov
239
Dec
285

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from United States Department of Homeland Security - Federal Protective Service are honored on badge.nw.