Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
End of Watch Saturday, September 26, 2020
Add to My HeroesJeffery Wade Sewell
Captain Jeff Sewell died as the result of complications after contracted COVID-19 while on duty.
Captain Sewell had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 32 years and was assigned to the Officers Assistance Program. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and five grandchildren.
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 58
- Tour 32 years
- Badge 26
Incident Details
- Cause COVID19
- Incident Date Saturday, September 5, 2020
Most Recent Reflection
View all 49 ReflectionsCaptain Sewell, as most of you know him, was my friend in our small home town of Atoka OK. Many of you may not know, but he was a really good high school athlete, football and track. He was the hardest working member of the team in all sports. He was my Center, as I was the QB in my Senior year, he was one year younger. He was one of the smaller linemen we had, but definitely was one of the more talented ones. He started on the High School football team even as a Freshman, when Freshman were not typically allowed to play, he as that good. Although he was an outstanding Center, he was even better as a Defensive Linebacker. He just had that instinct of all great players to anticipate how each play was going to develop and be in the thick of it ALL THE TIME. We almost made it to the State Championship game, we lost in the State Semi-Final game, falling one game short. Yes, he was truly a great athlete in his own right, but more importantly, as anyone that ever met him, he was an amazing, God loving, person. That love of people and his fortitude for being the best at whatever he decided to do, is what everyone here has posted about this man! You are missed Mr. Captain Jeff Sewell.
Friend, Michael Calhoun
High School friend and teammate
April 24, 2025
