Sean E. VanDenberg
Agency patch
Patrolman

Sean E. VanDenberg

Lawrence Township Police Department — North Lawrence, OH
Illness
End of Watch December 25, 2021
Age 54
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 178 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Sean VanDenberg died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 from arresting and transporting a COVID-19 positive suspect to jail after serving a warrant at a home in the 15400 block of Wooster Street NW in North Lawrence.

Patrolman VanDenberg had served with the Lawrence Township Police Department for eight years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Patrolman Sean E. VanDenberg died on December 25, 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, and two grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-F069F565
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.
Patrolman VanDenberg gave the Lawrence Township Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the North Lawrence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman VanDenberg.

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

Agency

Location North Lawrence, OH
Platform Identity ltpd.stark.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 2021
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail COVID19

Patrolman Sean E. VanDenberg 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 OH, 49 of 991 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 4.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

Lawrence Township Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Illness
OH — Statewide
49
of 991 officers
4.9% 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. Sean E. VanDenberg'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 Sean E. VanDenberg Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Sean E. VanDenberg is highlighted in Dec.

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