EL PASO COUNTY — 41-year-old El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Hopkins died on April 2, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.
Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office issued a release stating that Hopkins' death was determined to be a line of duty death.
"It is our medical opinion that the death of El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff Hopkins was due to COVID-19 as a direct result of in the line of duty action," a statement from El Paso County Public Health said.
The Sheriff's Office said Deputy Hopkins will be provided a full police honors service once the all clear is given to do so.
The full statement from El Paso County Health can be found below.
"The death of El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff Hopkins was determined by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office to be due to “respiratory arrest due to COVID-19.” The Epidemiologic investigation performed by the El Paso County Public Health Department determined medically that his infection was more likely than not due to exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus while in the line of duty at the Criminal Justice Center acting as an Intake and Release Deputy. Investigation by the El Paso County Public Health Epidemiology Division has identified that Deputy Hopkins had direct contact during his work shift with other Sheriff Office employee(s) who were symptomatic and subsequently had laboratory confirmed COVID-19 disease. Investigation did not identify a reasonable or known alternative contact as the source of his infection. The medical time-line based on known coinciding shift(s) of COVID-19 positive deputy(s) as well as the onset and progression of Deputy Hopkins’s symptoms is entirely consistent with him obtaining the exposure and consequent infection while performing his official duties. Death investigation by the El Paso County Coroner did not identify any potential alternate cause(s) of death. It is our medical opinion that the death of El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff Hopkins was due to COVID-19 as a direct result of in the line of duty action."
