Ernest M. Robinson
Corporal

Ernest M. Robinson

Illness
End of Watch January 18, 2022
Age 50
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
The Vigil Panel 179 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Ernest Robinson died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at Jail Division I.

Corporal Robinson had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 27 years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Corporal Ernest M. Robinson died on January 18, 2022 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 50.

He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 5 at Wayne County Sheriff's Dept..

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 four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-B0D2EAD5
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 Ernest. 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.
Corporal Robinson gave the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 27 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Robinson.

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

Agency

Location Detroit, MI
Platform Identity wcso.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 2022
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail COVID19

Corporal Ernest M. Robinson 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 MI, 23 of 718 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.2% of this state's fallen. That is 5.9 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Wayne County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 14 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 35.7% of this agency's fallen.

Wayne County Sheriff's Dept.
5
of 14 officers
35.7% Illness
MI — Statewide
23
of 718 officers
3.2% 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. Ernest M. Robinson'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 Ernest M. Robinson Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
27
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest M. Robinson is highlighted in Jan.

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