Retired Bluefield police officer dies of COVID-19
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January 2, 2021 - 8:26 am
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — A veteran of the City of Bluefield Police Department, who retired last summer, lost a battle with COVID-19 on New Year’s Day.
Retired Lt. James Vance
Photo/Facebook
The city reports retired Lieutenant James Vance died at a Pittsburgh hospital after what’s described as a courageous battle with the virus. He’d been sick for about a month.
Vance was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He ended a 20-year law enforcement career last June.
Bluefield city administrators released the following statement:
“Chief Dennis Dillow, the Bluefield, West Virginia Police Department, and Mayor Ron Martin are deeply saddened to announce the death of Retired Lieutenant James Vance. Lieutenant Vance passed away today, January 1, 2021, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, after a month-long battle with COVID-19. Lieutenant Vance retired from the Bluefield Police Department in June of 2020, after twenty-three years of service. Lieutenant Vance is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is survived by his wife, Jerri, and four children – Megan Vance, Tyler Vance, Julia Vance, and Jamie Vance. Lieutenant Vance’s passing is an enormous loss to the Bluefield Police Department, the City of Bluefield, and his family and friends. His unique, indomitable spirit and wit are impossible to capture with mere words. We will miss him greatly. Rest easy Lieutenant, we’ve got it from here.”