In the late fall of 2021, University of Dayton Police Officer Anthony E. Cloyd contracted the early 21st century’s deadliest global virus—COVID-19—while in the line of duty.

Due to the nature of their jobs, during the global pandemic, law enforcement officers were required to continue to interact with the public, while most of the population was self-quarantining. As a result, thousands of officers across the nation became ill, and hundreds of them died from COVID-related illnesses and complications. It was estimated that in 2020 alone, the virus killed approximately 525,000 people in the U.S.

Anthony died of complications from COVID-19 on December 9th, 2021.

Officer Cloyd was 59 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the University of Dayton Department of Public Safety for 16 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, mother, and two sisters.

Anthony was highly respected at the University of Dayton, where he had spent his entire law enforcement career and earned several awards. He enjoyed patrolling the campus and its neighborhoods, where he got to interact with the students. He was very popular and known for being friendly, personable, and kind. He would often buy meals for the homeless people he encountered along his beat. And he loved fishing and traveling.