Officer Byron Shields died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.
Officer Shields was a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm and had served with the United States Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations for 18 years. He is survived by his mother, brother, and two sisters.
In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.