HOUSTON – The Houston Police Department and family paid their final respects to Ernest Leal Jr., a senior officer who died after battling COVID-19 for several weeks. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the service was reserved for family, friends, HPD staff and those who knew Leal. He served as an HPD officer since August 1984, serving more than three decades with the North Patrol Division. The 35-year department veteran is the first HPD officer to die from COVID-19 and the fifth line-of-duty death within the past 12 months. Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nine municipal employees, three Houston firefighters, and one Houston police officer.

HOUSTON – Houston Police Department commanders and officers escorted the body of officer Ernest Leal Jr. from the HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress hospital to the Dignity Care Center Sunday at 10 a.m. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the death of @HoustonPolice Officer Ernest Leal, Jr. He served as an HPD officer since August 1984, serving more than three decades with the North Patrol Division. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the death of @houstonpolice Officer Ernest Leal, Jr. I ask all Houstonians to pray for the families of Officer Ernest Leal and Joel Cirilo.