Virgil Lynn Thomas, Sr.

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, CA

Illness

End of Watch August 20, 2020

Age 51

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

The Vigil Panel 172 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Sergeant Virgil Thomas died after contracting COVID-19 during a call for service.

Sergeant Thomas had served with the Richmond Police Department for 24 years. He had previously served with the Albany Police Department and Novato Police Department for four years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Sergeant Virgil Lynn Thomas, Sr. died on August 20, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 51.

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 and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-737FE7A9
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 Thomas gave the Richmond Police Department 28 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Thomas.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department

Location Richmond, CA

Platform Identity rpd.contracosta.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 20, 2020

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

Age 51

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Sergeant Virgil Lynn Thomas, 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 CA, 75 of 1,837 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 4.1% of this state's fallen. That is 5 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Richmond Police Department, 1 of 11 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 9.1% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 11 officers

9.1% Illness

CA — Statewide

of 1,837 officers

4.1% Illness

Nationwide

2,974

of 32,508 officers

9.1% Illness