Corrections Officer IV Ruben Martinez

Corrections Officer IV Ruben Martinez

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas

End of Watch Thursday, July 23, 2020

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Ruben Martinez

Corrections Officer IV Ruben Martinez died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among staff and inmates at the Lopez State Jail.

Officer Martinez had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for two years. He is survived by his three children.

The Effects of COVID on Law Enforcement

Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.

Corrections agencies, in particular, suffered tremendous losses due to the constant and close proximity between the corrections officers and large inmate populations. Since March 2020, ODMP has verified that over 900 law enforcement officers have died as the result of a confirmed or presumed exposure while on duty and continues to work with hundreds of other agencies that have suffered a COVID-related death.

Visit ODMP's COVID-19 memorial listing every officer who has died as a result of a confirmed or presumed exposure.

Bio

Age 48
Tour 2 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause COVID19
Incident Date Monday, July 13, 2020

communicable disease, COVID-19

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Most Recent Reflection

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Officer Martinez,
On today, the 5th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Texas. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

July 23, 2025