Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Nevada Incident Date: Not available
Officer Ray East died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Officer East served in law enforcement for 29 years serving with the Walker River Paiute Tribal Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections, Eureka County Sheriff's Office, Ren-Sparks Indian Colony, Wells Tribal Police Department, Fallon Tribal Police Department, Pershing County Sheriff's Department, Nye County Sheriff's Office, and Reno Police Department.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Officer Ray East died on December 19, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 54.
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, four children, parents, sister, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WRP-TR-46926DA5- 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 Ray. 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.
Officer East gave the Walker River Paiute Tribal Police Department 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the Schurz community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer East.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Ray East 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 NV, 14 of 145 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray East's cause is highlighted.
How Ray East Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Ray East is highlighted in Dec.