A 15-year veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department died Thursday from coronavirus, marking the first death among the agency’s ranks due to the pandemic.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of one of our own RSO family members, Deputy Terrell Young,” according to a Twitter post by the sheriff’s department. “Terrell Young served this department for 15 (years) & is the 1st member to succumb to the COVID-19 virus. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
No other details were immediately released.
Young leaves behind a wife and four children, according to a statement by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Association, which said Young died Thursday morning.
Young joined the sheriff’s department in 2005 and worked assignments primarily in western Riverside County in two county jails as well as the courts, according to the association. He also spent time at the Southwest and Perris sheriff’s stations.
“I have been in touch with his family and they are requesting privacy at this time,” association president Bill Young said in a statement. “Our association family, and law enforcement family as a whole, mourns with all of you, and our deepest sympathy and prayers extend to the family of Deputy Terrell Young. Please stay safe and take care of one another during these unprecedented, extremely difficult times.”
Prior to joining the department, Young worked as an enrollment counselor at California Baptist University in Riverside and National University in Orange County, according to his LinkedIn page. He also worked as an admissions counselor at the University of Phoenix and spent a year as an investment adviser in Orange County.
On Monday, Sheriff Chad Bianco announced that three sheriff’s deputies had so far tested positive for COVID-19.
“I have spoken to all of them and they are in good spirits recovering,” Bianco said of the deputies in a Facebook video at the time.
It was not immediately clear if Young was among the three infected.
Bianco said at the time there were other deputies who were self-quarantined and awaiting test results, though he did not specify how many.