Roll of Honor
Incident
Detention Deputy Charles Pugh died after contracting COVID-19 following a confirmed exposure in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Deputy Pugh had served with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office for five years and had previously served with the Florida Department fo Corrections for one year.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Detention Deputy Charles Otis Pugh, II died on August 18, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 40.
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 two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-03E1F94B- 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.
Detention Deputy Pugh gave the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detention Deputy Pugh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detention Deputy Charles Otis Pugh, II 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 FL, 81 of 1,008 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Otis Pugh, II's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Otis Pugh, II Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Otis Pugh, II is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
