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Veteran Ohio CO dies after contracting COVID-19

Officer Gregory Clark Jr.'s death is the first reported COVID-19 fatality at Cuyahoga County Jail

By Adam Ferrise
The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND — A veteran Cuyahoga County Jail corrections officer died after contracting the coronavirus, a union official said.

Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association attorney Dan Leffler confirmed Tuesday that Corrections officer Gregory Clark Jr. died. Leffler said he was notified of the death on Tuesday.

Leffler said he did not know Clark’s official cause of death, but said Clark previously was diagnosed with COVID-19.

If confirmed as a coronavirus-related death, it would be the first at the jail. No other officers or inmates have died from the virus.

More than 30 officers have contracted the virus, according to the union. County records say 164 inmates have tested positive so far.

Clark was a veteran corrections officer who spent 21-year on the job.

Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said she did not have any information on Clark’s death.

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©2020 The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

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