Holly MatkinSanta Rosa, CA – Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Detective Marylou Armer died on Tuesday due to complications caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to her department.
The 43-year-old detective served the SRPD for over 20 years, the Napa Valley Register reported.
Det. Armer and seven of her fellow officers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus thus far.
On March 25, the Napa County Health and Human Services agency confirmed that a resident of American Canyon – where Det. Armer lived – had been hospitalized in another county due to having been infected by COVID-19, the Napa Valley Register reported.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a member of our SRPD family, Detective Marylou Armer,” the police department tweeted on Tuesday night. “Sadly, Marylou was one of the first employees to test positive for #COVID19 and today succumbed to complications from the illness.”
“Marylou has faithfully served our community, in the Santa Rosa Police Department for the past 20 years,” the agency said. “Our hearts are with the family and Marylou will be deeply missed.”
Det. Armer’s law enforcement career began in 1999, when she joined SRPD as a field evidence technician, Santa Rosa Police Chief Ray Navarro said in a statement, according to The Press Democrat.
Chief Navarro said he had supervised her during their night shifts in those early years.
Det. Armer began serving as a police officer in 2008, and was a member of the department’s Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team at the time of her death, The Press Democrat reported.
“She was always proactive and there with a smile,” Chief Navarro said. “We are all going to miss her terribly.”
Det. Armer leaves behind her husband and stepdaughter, according to KNTV.
Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio released a statement expressing her condolences for the loss of the veteran officer.
“Our hearts go out to the patient’s family, and friends during this difficult time,” Relucio wrote, according to the Napa Valley Register.
“More than ever, it is crucial that we practice physical distancing, and if we are sick, even with mild illness, make every effort to self-isolate from others and follow the shelter-at-home order,” the doctor added.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Santa Rosa Police Department Detective Marylou Armer, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.