Roll of Honor
David J. Nieves
Incident
Master Police Officer David Nieves died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Officer Nieves was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Virginia Beach Police Department for 26 years, assigned to the 2nd Precinct.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Master Police Officer David J. Nieves died on February 1, 2022 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 52.
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 sons, grandson, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-3E586A32- 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.
Master Police Officer Nieves gave the Virginia Beach Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Virginia Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Police Officer Nieves.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
David J. Nieves served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Master Police Officer David J. Nieves 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 VA, 23 of 654 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 3.5% of this state's fallen. That is 5.6 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Virginia Beach Police Department, 1 of 12 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 8.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David J. Nieves's cause is highlighted.
How David J. Nieves Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. David J. Nieves is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Virginia Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
