Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant William Gardner died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a confirmed exposure while assisting EMS personnel on a medical call involving a COVID-19 positive patient in the 100 block of Rogers Circle.
Lieutenant Gardner had served with the Denver City Police Department for 33 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Lieutenant William Lyle Gardner died on January 7, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 59.
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, two daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-666B3EBA- 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 William. 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.
Lieutenant Gardner gave the Denver City Police Department 33 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Gardner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant William Lyle Gardner 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 TX, 204 of 2,421 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 8.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lyle Gardner's cause is highlighted.
How William Lyle Gardner Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. William Lyle Gardner is highlighted in Jan.