Moore County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
End of Watch Thursday, August 19, 2021
Deputy Sheriff Eric Ritter died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in a presumed exposure while on duty at the Moore County Courthouse.
Deputy Ritter had served three years with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and had previously served 30 years with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He is survived by his wife, daughter, three granddaughters, parents, and a brother.
Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.